Tough breed of senators clinch governor positions
Outgoing Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka and Minority Whip Mutula Kilonzo Junior lead a strong team from the Upper House who have captured various gubernatorial seats. Lusaka, vying on a Ford Kenya ticket, recaptured the Bungoma governor’s seat he lost in 2017.
He trounced governor Wycliffe Wangamati of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), who conceded defeat.
“I accept with humility the confidence the people of Bungoma have demonstrated in me by electing me as their governor,” Lusaka said on Friday.
In a statement, Wangamati said: “The people of Bungoma have spoken ... I have enjoyed engaging with you and bringing to reality the many things that were but dreams for our county,” he said.
Outgoing Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo also succeeded in replacing outgoing Governor Kivutha Kibwana, who failed to succeed the former as a senator.
Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Wiper Party) polled 214,088 votes, against outgoing Kibwezi West MP Patrick Musimba’s 63,252 votes (independent candidate).
In Murang’a, Irungu Kang’ata won the governor race with 256,561 votes to succeed outgoing Governor Mwangi wa Iria.
And in Nakuru, Senator Susan Kihika floored Governor Lee Kinyanjui.
In the results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kinyanjui, who vied on a Jubilee Party ticket, lost to the outspoken Senator vying on Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance.
County returning officer Joseph Melly said Kihika got 440,707 votes against Kinyanjui’s 225,623. Kihika is the daughter of late Nakuru MP Kihika Kimani.
The senator is a key ally of DP Ruto.
Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja’s fate is still unknown, as tallying was incomplete.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala also awaits the verdict of voters as they go to a repeat poll on August 25, 2022.
But senators Abdullahi Ali (Wajir), Mithika Linturi (Meru), Ephraim Maina (Nyeri), Charles Kibiru (Kirinyaga), George Khaniri (Vihiga), and Sam Ongeri (Kisii), failed in their governorship bids.
Linturi emerged second (183,859 votes) in a tight race won by Meru Woman Rep Kawira Mwangaza, with 209,148 votes. Murungi was last with 110,814 votes.
In Vihiga, Khaniri vied on a United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket and was third with 28,496 votes. Ottichilo won with 82,313 votes against the 42,432 garnered by the first Vihiga governor, Moses Akaranga of the Progressive Party of Kenya (PPK).
Mudavadi’s ANC candidate Alfred Agoi was a distant fourth with 26,088 votes.
In Nyeri County, Senator Maina was third after garnering 26,372 votes behind TND’s Thuo Mathenge with 81,467 votes.
Incumbent Mutahi Kahiga recaptured the seat with 213, 373 votes.
This even as Senators Mohamed Faki (Mombasa), Issa Juma Boy (Kwale), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Johnes Mwaruma (Taita Taveta)and Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay) successfully defended their seats to serve for three consecutive terms in office.
Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina of ODM won his re-election bid after getting 135,180 votes against Governor Samuel ole Tunai of UDA (117,869 votes).
Incumbent Garissa Senator Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji of Jubilee Party retained his seat after amassing 72,383 votes, followed by Mohamed Shale (19,279). Senator Haji, the younger brother of DPP Noordin Haji, is the son of former Senator Yusuf Haji, who died in February last year.
Incumbent Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen retained his seat after bagging 141,091 votes, beating outgoing governor Alex Tolgos (20,648 votes).
Other senators who succeeded in retaining their seats include Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Moses Kajwang’ (Homa Bay), Mohamed Faki (Mombasa), and Agnes Kavindu Mbuku (Machakos).
In the Nandi Senatorial race, Samson Cherargei retained his seat polling 284,373 votes against Jubilee Party Mark Kirwa who scored 20,900 votes
Senator Moses Kajwang retained his seat on the ODM ticket after garnering 353,882 votes; KANU’s Thomas Ojanga second with 18,690 votes.
Mohamed Faki of ODM retained his Mombasa senate race with 110,040 votes ahead of UDA’s Hamisi Mwaguya who has 76,069 votes.
Wiper’s Muthama Agnes Kavindu Mbuku secured a second term in office polling 155,883 votes compared to ODM’s Ngengele Urbanus Mutunga Muthama who secured 65,606 votes.
However, Senators Mohamed Maalim Mohamud (Mandera), Gideon Moi (Baringo), Michel Mbito (Trans-Nzoia), Njeru Ndwiga (Embu), Ephraim Maina (Nyeri), and Ali Wario (Tana River) were unsuccessful in their bid to defend their seats.
Baringo North MP William Cheptumo of UDA) trounced Senator Moi after garnering 141,777 votes compared to Senator Moi came second with 71,408 votes.
While Kisumu Senator Fred Outa and his Busia counterpart Amos Wako called it a day in politics.
In the Kajiado Senatorial race, Incumbent Senator Philip Mpayeei, failed to defend his seat as Samuel Seki of UDA polled 125,696 to emerge the winner ahead of Judith Pareno (ODM) who got 99,943 votes.
Prominent lawyer Prof Tom Ojienda won the Kisumu Senate seat with 413,121 votes against Jubilee’s Prof Enos Okolo, who garnered 15,575 votes.
Prof Ojienda has over two decades of experience in the corridors of justice and has handled high-profile cases.
The interests of the people of Busia County will now be represented in the senate by activist Okiya Omtatah, known for his vociferous litigation of matters of public interest.
He ran on the NRA ticket and garnered 171,681 votes which were almost three times the 59,276 that his closest challenger, Hillary Itela, received.
In Vihiga county Senate seat, Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi triumphed garnering 62,798 against James Babira of PPK who got 25,406 votes.
ANC’s Kennedy Butiko emerged third with 24,666 votes.
Danson Mungatana of UDA triumphed in the Tana River senate race by polling 34,129 votes.
Hassan Dukicha (Jubilee) came in second with 18,082 votes.
Abdi Bule of the Federal Party of Kenya is third with 14,157 votes.
However, Nyandarua Senator Mwangi Githiomi, a former minister, lost his seat to youthful John Methu of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Senator Githiomi came in third with 15,015 votes, after Theuri Kinyanjui with 34,845, while Mr Methu scored 185,337.
Githiomi lost to Methu even in his own Kipipiri constituency, where he garnered 4,327 votes against the senator-elect 19, 985.
Both Kinyanjui and Senator Githiomi contested as independent candidates after losing to Methu in the UDA primaries.
Methu, 31, is likely to be the youngest person ever elected to the Senate, after Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, who joined the House aged 32 in 2013.
Sang was elected governor in the 2017 elections.
