Two affiliate parties within the Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya coalition are spoiling for a fight in Nakuru Town West constituency after both cleared candidates to contest for the MP seat.
Initially, it had been thought that ODM would let Jubilee field a candidate in the constituency
On Wednesday, the ODM party cleared Dr Isoe Ochoki to fly its flag in the August polls against Jubilee’s Samuel Arama and UDA’s Kamau Githengi
Arama who is the current MP is now accusing ODM headquarters of causing confusion in the constituency by sponsoring a candidate against him
“What ODM is doing can be described as utter nonsense,” he lamented
The MP now says the move by ODM to field a candidate against him is likely to hamper efforts to consolidate presidential votes for the Azimio flag-bearer Raila Odinga
“We are in one house, and I don’t see the need of having two candidates in the same constituency,” he said
The entry of Dr Ochoki is likely to give an easy passage to the UDA candidate in the August 9 polls.
In 2017, Dr Ochoki gave Arama a run for his money after he garnered 25,071 votes to finish second behind Arama who won with 29,682 votes
Arama argues that ODM should support the Jubilee party in defending the seat to form a formidable force against UDA.
Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday said that the coalition will be forced to undertake another survey to determine strong candidates in regions where more than one affiliate parties have fielded candidates.
