Odhiambo Orlale
26 May 2008
Nairobi — Candidates taking part in by-elections in five constituencies will present their papers to the electoral commission Monday.
Sunday, key leaders of the main political parties mounted campaigns for their candidates ahead of today's official nomination.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga was in Wajir West Sunday, where ODM MPs drummed up support for the ODM Wajir North candidate Mohamed Gubow.
Kanu's candidate for the seat is former MP Abdullahi Ali. However, Mr Odinga did not campaign for Mr Gubow.
In Nairobi, Justice minister Martha Karua and former Sports minister Maina Kamanda were in Embakasi to campaign for PNU candidate Ferdinard Waititu.
The ODM elections board, led by party secretary-general Anyang' Nyong'o, issued nomination certificates to its parliamentary candidates Esther Passaris of Embakasi, Benjamin Too (Ainamoi), Mr Jonah N'geno (Kilgoris), Wilbur Otichillo and Gubow (Wajir North).
Candidates for local authorities polls will also present their papers.
Campaigning
After the candidates are cleared, they will be given the go-ahead to start campaigning for the June 11 by-elections to fill the seats which fell vacant due to death, resignation, electoral violence and a tie.
ODM will field candidates for all the five seats and plans to campaign vigorously to reclaim the three it lost due to death of Embakasi MP Melitus Mugabe Were and his Ainamoi counterpart, David Too, and resignation of Mr Kenneth Marende as Emuhaya MP, after he was elected Speaker of the National Assembly in January.
The results for Kilgoris were cancelled due to violence and irregularities while in Wajir North Kanu and ODM candidates tied with 3,675 votes each.
Ms Parsaris, who was unsuccessful in her bid to be a nominated councillor, said she will present her papers at 11am.
PNU will field candidates only in Embakasi, Kilgoris and Wajir North.
They are former Nairobi deputy mayor Ferdinand Waititu, former Immigration minister Gideon Konchella and Dr Ali Ibrahim of Kanu, which is part of the PNU coalition.
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