Raila Odinga’s party has handed a nomination certificate to former Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director-General Pavel Oimeke to contest in the Bonchari constituency by-election.
Oimeke resigned from his position at EPRA in early March 2021 in the wake of a corruption scandal against him in which he was accused of demanding a KSh 200,000 bribe to re-open a petrol station.
ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said today the party’s central committee had settled on Oimeke and asked 2 others who were interested in the party’s ticket to rally behind him
ODM’s candidate will face-off with Teresa Bitutu, widow of former Bonchari MP Oroo Oyieka who passed on, occasioning the by-election slated for May 18.
As reported by Kivumbi.co.ke earlier, Teresa Bitutu is backed by United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a party heavily associated with Deputy President William Ruto.
UDA is working with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which had sponsored the constituency’s late MP
In December 2020, EACC detectives arrested Pavel Oimeke following the bribery claims to reopen the petrol station in Oyugis.
He was released on a KSh 20,000 police bond.
The petrol station had been shut by Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) over tax violations.
It had been closed for selling fuel meant for export. It was fined KSh309,842 by KRA and was issued with a clearance letter for Oimeke to authorise the opening of the station.
