Late MP Kamoti's brother to fly ODM flag for Rabai seat in August poll

The family of the late Rabai MP William Kamoti has settled on his younger brother to vie for the seat on an Orange Democratic Movement ticket.

According to Kilifi ODM branch chair and Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire, Mr Mohamed Mdigo Mwamlare will now fly the party ticket for the Rabai constituency in place of his brother who died after being cleared by the electoral body.

Mwambire said that they are now waiting for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to clear him.

"The family and ODM have settled on Mohamed Mdigo Mwamkale as our candidate, we will provide all details after the IEBC clearance process," he said.

On Monday, leaders from the Coast region had called on the ODM to replace the late Rabai MP William Kamoti with one of his kin following his death.

Kamoti died in a road accident on the Malindi-Mombasa highway on Sunday evening moments after he had been cleared by IEBC to defend his seat.

He was buried at his Kaliang’ome village home in Rabai, Kisurutini where thousands of friends and supporters thronged Kaliang'ombe primary school to give him a decent send-off.

Rabai Kisurutini Member of County Assembly (MCA) Cantona Mwadena described the late Kamoti as a visionary leader whose legacy should be continued by one of his brothers.

“I worked with him for years without disagreeing and we demand that a family member be selected immediately to replace him the way Imran Okoth replaced Ken Okoth and also the way Issah Juma Boy replaced his late brother Boy Juma Boy in the Senate,"  said the first term MCA.

"Kamoti has left behind brothers, Gideon Hare and Mdigo Mwamkale and one of them should be given that chance to continue the work Kamoti started in ODM.”

His sentiments were echoed by other leaders including Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi, his Likoni counterpart Mishi Mboko and Jomvu’s Badi Twalib.

“If the Rabai people have agreed with your MCA, even us, we support you that a family member should take over from Kamoti,” Mwinyi said.

ODM leader Raila Odinga said the news of the MP’s passing was shocking and asked the local party leadership to consult with Kamoti’s family members and decide on a replacement within 12 hours before the close of the IEBC deadline for submitting names today.

“I want to ask local leaders and family to discuss and decide on the person who will fly the flag of ODM in Rabai before tomorrow,” he said.