MAGARA LATEST

A supremacy battle between Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Higher Education Minister William Ruto is playing out in the South Mugirango by-election.

Mr Ruto’s allies declared they would campaign for former MP Omingo Magara on a People’s Democratic Party after he ditched ODM.

Mr Magara lost the seat after the High Court in Kisii nullified his election in a petition case.

On Thursday, Ruto’s allies led by Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto and his Konoin counterpart Julius Kones vowed to support Magara.

"Although the law bars us from campaigning openly for a candidate running on another party, we will give Magara total support," Mr Kones told The Standard on telephone.

He added: "There are many avenues of helping Magara win the seat and we will stand by him because he is a true friend."

Isaac Ruto said: "We have not made a decision as a team, but we will meet soon to plan for Magara’s campaigns."

He said Magara deserves an opportunity to defend his seat since the court nullified his elections because of mistakes made by the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya and not him.

"We are aware the battle will not be easy, but we have the capacity to steer Magara to victory," he added.

Kones said they have fallen out with the ODM leadership and they would not support the party’s candidate in the June 10 by-election.

He said Magara was one of ODM leaders frustrated for his divergent views, adding the issue should be a wake-up call for the Orange party.

ODM has cleared six candidates for the party’s nominations. They are Gideon Moreka, Zebedeo Nyaboga, Kepher Marube, Ibrahim Ochoi, Henry Nyabuto and David Okachi.

Meanwhile, a row is brewing in PNU between affiliate parties ahead of the South Mugirango by-election.

An aspirant, Rashid Miyonga, said it was unfortunate PNU could fail to conduct nominations. He said PNU leadership failed to seek guidance from the grassroots and relied on some local Ford-People politicians.

PNU sources said they had agreed to support Ford-People candidate Manson Oyongo, who successfully filed a petition against Magara.

"The problem in our party is bigger than that of ODM. PNU is relying on former local MPs," Mr Miyonga complained.

Last week, he led 160 PNU delegates from South Mugirango in voicing their displeasure at the party’s move to support Ford-People.

But Mr Oyongo denied allegations that his party had prevailed on PNU to ignore Miyonga.

"It is Ford-People and its candidate that went to court for the petition. So it is only natural that Ford-People support its candidate. PNU and its affiliates needs one strong candidate to win," said Oyongo.

Safina and Kanu, PNU affiliates, have cleared their own candidates.