ODM leader Raila Odinga Tuesday taunted the Jubilee Alliance Party for the loss the new political outfit linked to the President suffered at the hands of the Opposition in the Kajiado Central by-election.
Speaking at a thanksgiving rally in Kajiado town, Mr Odinga said ODM’s victory represented the death of the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), just two months after it was formed from a union of the governing TNA and URP coalition. He said that with the defeat “everything about it is all dead now”.
“They killed URP and TNA so they can bring here a new baby called JAP. But even their new baby is now dead. We are telling them that Kajiado is not where they bring the dead (parties) for burial,” he said amid cheers from supporters at the KCB grounds.
Mr Odinga accused JAP and its leaders of trying to influence voters with money. He was with other leaders in the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (Cord) that included Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Senator Johnson Muthama and Kajiado Governor David ole Nkedianye, among others.
LARGELY PEACEFUL
They were celebrating the election of Mr Elijah Memusi who on Monday garnered 16,008 votes to defeat Mr Patrick Tutui of JAP, who had 15,508. The contest between the two had been tight.
On Monday, the elections were largely peaceful but three men were arrested outside polling stations with bundles of cash. ODM officials claimed that the men had been bribing voters.
The three men were later released after they pledged to honour a police summons.
Kajiado Police Boss Samuel Kumuut told the Nation the case was now under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Mr Odinga led a road show through the streets of Kajiado, joined by Mr Memusi’s supporters who had congregated in groups to celebrate their candidate’s victory.
The political repercussions of JAP’s defeat sent shock waves among political leaders in Kajiado, especially since the JAP candidate was heavily supported during the campaigns.
President Uhuru Kenyatta campaigned for him before leaving the country for an official visit to Japan while Deputy President William Ruto was in the area on three different occasions, accompanied by various Jubilee leaders.
From Nation news