Bonchari Kanu candidate now joins ODM

By Rawlings Otieno

Kenya: Kanu has suffered a setback after its sole candidate in the upcoming Bonchari by-election Oyioka Oroo left the party to join ODM.

Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat confirmed that the Oroo had indicated to the party his intention to defend his seat on another party ticket should he not be given direct nomination.

Salat said the party would therefore not field any candidate in the June 3 by-elections.

Instead, Kanu will now throw its weight behind Jubilee coalition candidate Zebedeo Opore who is running on a Ford People ticket.

“We want our supporters to know that Kanu will no longer field any candidate for the Bonchari by-election after our sole candidate ditched the party to join ODM,” said Salat.

Initially, Oroo was to run on a Kanu ticket, but refused to be subjected to the nomination exercise as fronted by Jubilee.

“We had agreed to support him (Oroo) as a Kanu candidate in a joint nomination with other Jubilee affiliate candidates. But he wanted a direct ticket to defend his seat,” said Salat.

However, Kanu has said it will field a candidate in the Mathare by-election and would not subject its candidates to a joint nomination.