Anne Thumbi: Why I’m with Mariga in Kibra race, and not Ken Okoth’s brother

Nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA) in Nairobi, Anne Thumbi, has spoken about viral pictures showing her in the company of McDonald Mariga, the embattled Jubilee candidate in the Kibra parliamentary race.

On Tuesday, Thumbi, who first flung into public fame after Ken Okoth’s demise on July 26, was pictured alongside Mariga, who had gone to present his nomination papers at the IEBC offices in Dagoretti.

Her presence at the event elicited questions among sections of online users, who believed Thumbi would support Ken Okoth’s brother, Imran Bernard Okoth, in the race for Kibra MP seat.

Imran is vying on an ODM ticket. Mariga, on the other hand, until his Tuesday disqualification, was in the race on a Jubilee Party flag.

It would be remembered that shortly after Ken Okoth’s death due to colorectal cancer, Anne Thumbi came out to claim that the Late lawmaker had sired a baby boy with her in 2015.

The MCA would, during that time, move to court and seek to have Okoth’s DNA samples extracted and matched with her son’s. The DNA test results, which were ordered by a Nairobi court, came out positive, and the announcement made on September 5.

And, given she was in a relationship with an ODM member, some online users thought it would only be prudent if she supports a candidate fronted by her deceased’s lover’s party. That won’t happen, says Thumbi.

“I was nominated to the Nairobi County Assembly under the Jubilee Party. I, therefore, am obligated to stick with the party’s choice in the race for Kibra parliamentary seat. Jubilee’s choice, as of today, is Mariga, and I needed to show him my support,” Thumbi told K24 Digital on phone Wednesday.

Asked about how she relates with the Late Ken Okoth’s brother, Imran, and whether it would be appropriate to support his candidature, Thumbi said: “I won’t comment on that”.

-Mariga’s disqualification-

On Tuesday, September 10, IEBC Returning Officer in Kibra, Beatrice Muli, revealed that McDonald Mariga, is not a registered voter in Kenya, and, therefore, is not legally fit to vie for any elective seat in the country.

Muli said IEBC made the discovery after looking for Mariga’s details in the electoral board’s official voters’ register, but did not come across the information.

Mariga’s team, led by former Kakamega Senator, Boni Khalwale, protested against the declaration, saying they will present their grievance to the IEBC dispute resolution committee.

Mariga alleged that he was registered as a voter in Kenya in Starehe Constituency some-time in August, 2019.

The Kibra by-election is penciled in for November 7, 2019.

Jubilee Party has seven days, beginning Wednesday, September 11, to file a formal complaint with IEBC.

If still the party won’t be satisfied by the IEBC’s dispute resolution committee’s decision, it can, thereafter, go to court.

-Thumbi’s complaints against Okoth’s widow, family-

On September 5, Mariga’s rooter in the Kibra MP race, Anne Thumbi, accused the late Ken Okoth’s family of neglecting her son.

Thumbi said ever since Okoth died on July 26, her 4-year-old son’s education has not been funded by the late lawmaker’s widow, Monica, and mother, Angeline Ajwang.

Through her lawyer, Elkana Mogaka, Thumbi said none of the family members of Ken Okoth had ever contacted her to inquire about the child’s welfare.

In an affidavit filed at the Milimani Law Courts last Thursday, September 5, Thumbi submitted the results of her son’s paternity test, which revealed that there was a 99.9 per cent chance that the late Okoth is the biological father of Thumbi’s son.

Thumbi’s other lawyer, Danstan Omari, said they were seeking to be heard by the court. They want Thumbi’s son formally declared a beneficiary of Ken Okoth’s property.

Anne Thumbi also wanted the court to direct that the child’s welfare be taken care of by members of Ken Okoth’s family, including his widow, Monica.

“Ken Okoth’s family is yet to pay a shilling for the child’s education. Since the MP died, Anne Thumbi has been neglected by his family,” said Mogaka.

“The minor is Okoth’s only child,” added the lawyer.

Anne Thumbi and Ken Okoth allegedly began dating in 2013, shortly after the March 4 general election.