Raila Dumps ODM Candidate for Kitutu Chache Parliamentary Race to Block Jubilee's From Winning

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga has dumped his candidate for the Kitutu Chache South parliamentary by-election in a bid to deny President Uhuru's Jubilee party chances of winning the seat.

Nasa affiliate parties Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper, Wetangula's Ford Kenya and Mudavadi's Amani National Congress (ANC) have each fielded a candidate in the bye-election scheduled for Tuesday, while Jubilee has one candidate.

However, Raila Odinga has dropped his support for ODM’s Samwel Omwando and rallied behind Richard Onyonka (Ford Kenya), the incumbent MP.

Justus Mochoge (Amani National Congress), Andrew Maubi (Wiper) and Mr Antony Kibagendi (Jubilee) are the other contenders of the seat.

It is believed that Raila and the other three National Super Alliance (Nasa) co-principals, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi, agreed to back Onyonka after fears that fielding several candidates from the same coalition could give advantage to Kibagendi of Jubilee.

“We came to an agreement that we support one strong candidate and we must also vote as one unit, Nasa, so that we can defeat Jubilee,” said Raila at Ruga centre.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) postponed the election in the constituency after Jubilee candidate Leonard Gwaro died a week to August 8th general election.