Orange Democratic Movement( ODM) candidate in the upcoming Kibra by-elections Imran Benard Otieno Okoth has finally addressed the alleged bribery claims in the just concluded Kibra ODM nominations.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Citizen in the morning show dubbed Jambo Kenya, Imran said that he won the nominations without bribing anyone.
He said he was elected without giving anyone a single cent, arguing that he has never communicated one on one without ODM’s director of communications Philip Etale.
“Sikuunganishwa na Philip Etale, hizi nominations nilipata bila kuhonga hata shilingi. Kusema ukweli, sijawahi kuongea moja kwa moja na Etale,” he said during the interview, which loosely translates to, I was not connected by Philip Etale, I won these nominations without bribing even a single cent. Truly, I have never communicated one on one with Philip Etale.
It had been speculated that Imran may have been rigged in by the party mandarins.
Leaked screenshots that have been circulating on social media since Sunday morning showed that prior to the Saturday poll, Imran was in constant communication with Philip Etale, ODM Communication Director, and his victory may have been well planned even before the Kibra electorates saw the ballot papers.
Party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and Elections Board Chairperson Judith Pareno had allegedly demanded Ksh2 million from Imran to seal his victory as per the screenshots below.
Etale however denied the claims, urging Kenyans to ignor the screenshots which he termed as a strategy to cause confusion about ODM’s nominations.
