Contestants in Kibra by-election violated the law

The November 7, 2019, Kibra parliamentary seat by-election was not just any other election. It had a bearing on the anticipated 2022 Kenyatta succession. It was hyped to give an accurate projection of where, in particular, Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto stood in relation to each other in their quest for supremacy post the March 9, 2018 handshake that, no doubt, upset the apple cart.

Ruto, until then exuding confidence he will inherit the mantle of leadership from Kenyatta, could afford to ruffle a few feathers and be complacent. But the handshake shook the ground on which he stood so much that a fissure formed and from it, two sprites -Tangatanga and Kieleweke - emerged. They have been haunting Kenyans since.