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The stakes in the Kajiado Central by-election have gone a notch higher after one of the losers in the Jubilee Alliance Party primaries defected to the rival Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Memusi Kanchori jumped ship to ODM, claiming the Jubilee nominations in which he lost to Patrick Tutui were shambolic.
“We are disappointed by the way the nominations were conducted. We have now agreed with my people to move to ODM where we belonged in the first place,” Kanchori said at Orange House where he was received by party officials.
Kanchori garnered 10,100 votes against Tutui’s 10,502 during the Jubilee nominations. The Kajiado Central seat fell vacant following the appointment of Joseph Nkaissery to the Cabinet.
ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba warned Nkaissery against interfering in the by-election and claimed that Kanchori’s defection is a sign that the party still enjoys support in the constituency which has over 38,000 registered voters.
“We would like to welcome Kanchori to the party, but also tell Nkaissery that he should respect the party that took him to Parliament,” said Namwamba.
The defection is likely to send the Jubilee coalition back to the drawing board, as it seeks to consolidate its support in the constituency. Kanchori will on the other hand be hoping that his support during the nomination will translate into votes for the Orange party.
He has already won the backing of another Jubilee loser Anthony Kiroken who was third with 7,666 votes. ODM denied claims that it would give Kanchori a direct ticket.
“As a party, our doors are open to those who support democracy. We are going to conduct a free and fair exercise that will satisfy everybody,” said Nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro.The party National Elections Board Chairperson Judy Pareno said ODM will proceed with preparations for the nominations exercise, which has so far attracted four candidates.
“We hope to conclude all processes by Wednesday (tomorrow),” said Pareno.
However, Kanchori’s defection was not welcomed by everyone. This was evident after Namwamba and other ODM top brass were booed during a rally in Kajiado Central as four ODM aspirants threatened to ditch the party. The four, who were set for a road show from Kajiado to Namanga, said they will not accept Kanchori to the party despite Namwamba promising free and fair nominations.
“We will not be part of the nominations if Mr Kanchori will be in the race,” said Peter ole Nkeri, an aspirant.
Another aspirant Simon Peter Nkeri said that as ODM aspirants they have agreed that if Kanchori is included in the Nkaissery succession race they will all quit and commence anti-ODM campaigns.
Jubilee plans to have an “in-house” meeting to rally nomination losers behind winner Patrick Tutui.
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Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau, who was in charge of nominations, yesterday said their plan was to have all those who participated in JAP nominations rally their supporters behind Tutui, a plan that appeared to have backfired after Kanchori’s defection.
“He (Kanchori) is on record saying that the nomination process was free and fair, when he believed that he was winning the contest. It is laughable for him to now turn around to claim irregularities in the process,” he said.
-Additional reporting by Everlyne Kwamboka and Peterson Githaiga