Political parties and coalitions have continued to step up preparations ahead of the Makueni senatorial by-election slated for next month with the coalition for reforms and democracy through its affiliate Wiper Party maintaining that Kethi Kilonzo will fly the Cord flag.
The Jubilee affiliate parties on the other hand are expected to meet on Wednesday and agree on who their candidate will be. The seat fell vacant following the death of Mutula Kilonzo on 27th April.
The phrase “Kethi to fly CORD’s flag in Makueni” refers to Kethi Kilonzo, daughter of the late Mutula Kilonzo, being selected by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) to contest the Makueni senatorial seat left vacant by her father’s death in 2013.
Kethi Kilonzo was nominated by the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM), a key party in the CORD coalition.
However, her nomination was revoked by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after it was determined that she was not a registered voter, leading to a legal and political controversy.
Despite the setback, CORD leaders, including Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga, met with Kamba elders and community leaders to discuss the next steps.
It was unanimously agreed that Mutula Kilonzo Jr., the late senator’s son, would be the best candidate to continue his father’s legacy. Mutula Jr. was subsequently nominated by Wiper to contest the seat.
The phrase “fly CORD’s flag” symbolically represents Kethi Kilonzo’s role as the coalition’s candidate in the Makueni by-election, even though she was later replaced by her brother, Mutula Kilonzo Jr.
