Ann Thumbi, the Jubilee nominated MCA who is also a mother to Ken Okoth’s five year old son has thrown her weight behind the embattled Jubilee candidate for the Kibra by-election McDonald Mariga.
Ms Thumbi, who has been at logger heads with the Okoth’s family over paternity of their child has become a pawn in the political tussle between ODM and the Jubilee party.
While submitting his credentials to the IEBC on Tuesday before his candidature was invalidated, Ann Thumbi seconded Mariga for the Kibra seat; something which has been raising why Mariga’s strategists picked on the nominated to play this position.
Thumbi came to limelight after the death of Okoth after she blocked the late MP’s interment, saying she had been locked out of preparations for his final send off.
During the MP’s funeral service, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko revealed that Okoth and Thumbi had a son and he said he would ensure the legislator’s family recognised the minor to make sure he does not suffer.
“Ken will not forgive me if I don’t save the situation. Ken fell in love with a nurse called Anita from the Sonko rescue team.
“In 2017, he asked me to help him nominate his second wife to the County Assembly and out of respect for him, I nominated Ann Thumbi,” said the governor.
Okoth succumbed to colorectal cancer and was cremated at Kariokor on August 3, 2019.
The MP’s body was cremated at a private function, ending the protracted debate on where to bury him and which method to use after differences emerged between culture and his will.
There was a split after a section of family members insisted Okoth be buried and not cremated as that would be a taboo.
