A former ally of Deputy President William Ruto has dropped out of the Msambweni by-election.
Sharlet Mariam who was contesting the seat as an independent candidate on Tuesday announced that she will instead be supporting Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Omar Boga.
According to Mariam, her decision to drop out of the race was influenced by her meeting with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
She stated that Odinga persuaded her to support Boga in a bid to ODM retains the seat.
Mariam Joins Jubilee
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Mariam was a member of the ODM party but decamped to Jubilee hoping to vie on the party’s ticket.
However, she was dealt a blow when the party announced that it will not be fielding a candidate in the upcoming election.
She then decided to vie as an independent candidate hoping to having the backing of DP Ruto, but she was again disappointed when the DP opted to support a rival candidate named Feisal Bader.
“… I have seen a lot of double standards. On one hand he says the poor people must be heard and respected but when he comes to Msambweni he wants us to play inheritance politics. The people of Msambweni are the one who were bereaved, its not a family affair… It is so sad that a woman is repressed when she stands out to fight for an equal right. I am ready to face all men. Dynasties or no dynasties,” Mariam said.
Her move to back the ODM candidate has made the race tougher for Bader since Omar now enjoys a huge support base.
