Candidates in last-minute rush for votes in Msambweni

Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi (centre) and Msambweni ODM Candidate Omar Boga during campaigns at Mawembe grounds in Msambweni On Thursday, December 10. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

Aspirants in the Msambweni by-election are pulling all the stops to woo voters ahead of the by-election next week.

Two days before campaigns end officially, all the eight candidates in the race were on the campaign trail on Thursday. ODM leader Raila Odinga is expected to join the party’s candidate, Omar Boga, in campaigns today.

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi, and Kilifi MP Mishi Mboko are among the politicians who pitched camp in different wards campaigning yesterday.

Kingi claimed Boga was a handshake candidate and had been endorsed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“He stands to bring development to Msambweni if elected,” the Kilifi governor said.

Mvurya claimed there was a plot by ODM to rig the mini poll in favour of Boga and urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to ensure the elections are free and fair.

“ODM is on record saying the party must win the December 15, by- election. This means they are planning to rig the election and we want IEBC to scuttle their plans,” Mvurya said.

Jumwa expressed her frustrations during campaigns, saying ODM supporters have been giving her a hard time because of her decision to support Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential ambitions in 2022.

The Msambweni seat fell vacant following the death of the former MP Suleiman Dori in March.

Msambweni is one of the four constituencies in Kwale County, others are Lunga-Lunga, Matuga and Kinango.

It has 69,377 registered voters spread across the four wards of Ramisi, Kinondo, Bongwe-Gombato and Ukunda.

Earlier on Thursday, Mvurya said Kenya Marine Fisheries Research Institute (Kemfri) has begun constructing a research centre at Shimoni, a project that will cost Sh1.2 billion.