Macdonald Mariga has called ODM’s Imran Okoth to concede defeat in the Kibra by-election.
A video of Mariga released late Thursday evening showed the Jubilee candidate making the phone call to Okoth.
“Hallo boss, ni Mariga. Nimepiga nikuambie congratulations. Race imekuwa poa, hatukupigana mahali popote tulikuwa pamoja. Niko ready hata kwa lunch…vile utataka, na pia support yoyote utataka kutoka kwangu, niko ready,” Mariga said.
He continued: “After elections tutarudi ile life yetu ya mabeshte na kila kitu…Kabisa Sir.”
Okoth is heard acknowledging the congratulatory message and thanking Mariga for the phone call.
At the time the phone call was made, Okoth had garnered 4,051 votes against Mariga’s 1602 from 32 of the 183 polling stations.
The vote count is still underway with ANC’s Eliud Owalo currently at 961 votes and Ford Kenya’s Khamisi Butichi at 42 votes.
BREAKING: Jubilee candidate Macdonald Mariga calls ODM’s Imran Okoth to concede defeat in the Kibra by-election #NewsGang #KibraVotes pic.twitter.com/7pmjGTMrRT
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) November 7, 2019
Earlier in the day, Mariga was chased out of Mayani polling station by locals.
He had been touring various polling stations in the area to check on how the voting process was going on but was forced to flee in his vehicle.
Jubilee Party candidate in the Kibra by-election McDonald Mariga was on Thursday afternoon chased out of Mayani polling station by goons.
Mariga, was touring various polling stations in the area to check on how the voting process was going on. pic.twitter.com/J2zfe92J6V
— MCGW (@MombasaCGW) November 7, 2019
In the morning, the Jubilee candidate did not cast his vote but wheeled in one voter into Lindi Mosque polling station, took photos with his supporters and then went back outside to speak to journalists.
“Ni mama nilimpata, mama mlemavu, nikaona wacha nimsaidie, apige kura na ujumbe ambao napeleka kwa watu au wakenya wote na IEBC ni kwamba sisi ambao tumeishi diaspora hatujapatiwa nafasi ya kuwa registered kuwa voters na tuko zaidi ya milioni moja. Naomba IEBC next time watumie mbinu zao na nikiingia bunge hiyo ndio ntapush sana,” Mariga explained.
For the past few months, Mariga has campaigned for the Kibra seat with backing from DP William Ruto and other allies.
Towards the end of their campaign, the Deputy President even promised residents of Kibra an array of goodies from government if they elect Mariga.
“If you are a resident of Kibra, as the Jubilee government we want to construct houses, so that if you are paying for instance Ksh.4,000 0r Ksh.5,000 after 15 years the house becomes yours,” said Ruto.
However on Thursday, as the vote numbers trickled in, the DP’s allies began to concede defeat but said the poll had shown that ODM’s hold on Kibra can be challenged.
MPs Kimani Ichung’wa (Kikuyu), John Kiarie (Dagoretti) and Nixon Korir (Lang’ata) said Jubilee’s performance was much better than it had been in 2017.
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