ODM’s Imran Okoth wins Kibra by-election

ODM candidate Bernard Imran Okoth has emerged winner in the hotly-contested Kibra by-election.

Imran Okoth garnered 24,636 votes with Jubilee Party’s McDonald Mariga coming in second with 11,230 votes.

On Thursday, as vote counting was underway, Mariga conceded defeat and called Okoth to congratulate him.

He assured Okoth of his support saying: “After elections tutarudi ile life yetu ya mabeshte na kila kitu…”

I'm humbled to have received a congratulatory call from @MarigaOfficial . That’s the spirit of politics. I promise to move forward with every interested party for the good of our people. God bless Kibra.

— Benard Okoth Imran (@ImranOkoth) November 7, 2019

Congratulations to Imran & Kibra voters. Lessons learnt: 1. Imran won with about 55% of votes. 2. Hon @JunetMohamed is a formidable campaigner. Cemented his status as Baba's right hand man, 3.Kibra is a toss up in a general election 4. Mariga/JUBILEE scored an important away goal

— Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC (@ahmednasirlaw) November 7, 2019

Congratulations to Kibra MP Elect @ImranOkoth & Kibra people for voting in a true son of Kibra. Thank you for honouring the handshake. Walikucheka lakini #kwagroundvitunidifferent. Long live the #Handshake ; forward, onward to #BBI#volumeikosawa?#KibraDecides

— Anne Waiguru (@AnneWaiguru) November 7, 2019

Congratulations to Imran Okoth for the landslide victory in Kibra .

— Sen Mutula KilonzoJR (@SenMutula) November 7, 2019

Congratulations Bernard Otieno Okoth Imran for your resounding victory in the just concluded by-election in Kibra. We give praise and thanks to the Lord for your victory. To your worthy competitors, we appreciate their effort. Zidi kutenda Mheshimiwa.

— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) November 7, 2019

At third position was Eliud Owalo (ANC) with 5,275 votes followed by Khamisi Butichi (Ford Kenya) in fourth place with 260 votes.

A total of 24 candidates contested for the Kibra parliamentary seat which fell vacant following the death of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July this year.

Kibra Constituency has a total of 118,658 voters in its five wards of Sarang’ombe, Woodley, Makina, Laini Saba and Lindi.

The mini poll in Kibra was marred by several incidents of alleged voter bribery and pockets of violence.

Three people were arrested over alleged voter bribery as Kibra residents cast their votes to elect a new Member of Parliament.

The 24 candidates included Benard Imran Okoth (ODM), McDonald Mariga (Jubilee), Eliud Owalo (ANC), Khamisi Butichi (Ford Kenya), Anaciet Dorn (DP), Martin Andati (Modern Alliance Party), Felix Anditi (Independent), Ibrahim Kimorko (Roots Party), Kassim Abdul (The New Democrats) and Titus Mutinda (Republican Liberty Party).

Others were Fridah Kerubo (Independent), Mathew Musyoka (Independent), Jared Nyakundi (National Liberal Party), Elijah Nyamwamu (National Rainbow Coalition – Kenya), Editar Ochieng’ (Ukweli Party), Emmanuel Owiti (Green Congress), David Odanga (Independent) and Isaac Ogongo (Justice and Freedom party).

Also in the race was Fransco Ojiambo (Party of Democratic Unity), Shedrack Omondi, (Independent), Shem Ocharo (Munngano), Abraham Okoth (Independent) Hamida Musa (United Green Movement) and Noah Migudo (Independent).