UDA’s Chege Njuguna wins Kandara MP seat
United Democratic Alliance candidate Chege Njuguna has clinched the Kandara parliamentary seat in the by-election held on Thursday, January 5.
Chege garnered 21,650 votes to beat his closest challenger Njau Mbuchu of Ford Asili who finished second with 14,678 votes.
Kibiru PMG Junior of Usawa Kwa Wote party came in a distant third with 1,479 votes.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Returning Officer Rina Kilonzo, a total of 38,625 people cast their votes translating to 36.83 per cent of the total registered voters.
Speaking after receiving his certificate, Njuguna who would not hide his excitement promised to work tirelessly to deliver to the people of Kandara.
He said campaigning for the seat for a second time has not been a walk in the park but his efforts finally paid off.
"I promise the people of Kandara that I won't let them down and I will deliver quality leadership to them," he said.
"I have a number of projects which I intend to implement to benefit the residents," he added.
Njuguna also promised to reach out to his opponents to bring them on board for them to work as a team.
"My mission will be to unite the leaders in the area so that we work together as a team to serve the people of Kandara," he remarked.
Veronica Maina UDA's secretary general said Njuguna's victory is a big win for the party adding that it also indicates the party is still popular in the area.
Further, she said, the party's victory in Elgeyo Marakwet and Garrisa Township by-elections also shows the party has massive support across the country.
"We are happy as a party that we have captured the seats and this is an indication of our strength," she said.
Other leaders who had accompanied Njuguna to receive his certificate at Ng'araria secondary school among them Maragua MP Mary Waithira and Women representative Betty Maina promised to support the MP elect in his new job.
"We are glad to have you on board and you can count on our support to help deliver to the residents," they said.
The seat fell vacant following the nomination and subsequent appointment of Alice Wahome as Cabinet Secretary for Water and Sanitation in October last year.
In Garissa, the ruling UDA party also floored rival parties after Barrow Dekow Mohamed was declared the winner of Thursday's by-election.
Dekow garnered 11,572 votes to emerge the winner ahead of Nassir Dolal of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) party who got 8,158 votes.
Narc Kenya’s Ibrahim Malow came a distant third with 840 votes.
While announcing the results of the mini-poll on Thursday night, Returning officer for Garissa Township Constituency Abdi Yunis Mohamed said a total of 21,218 votes were cast representing 39.84 per cent voter turnout.
Dekow takes over from Duale
Dekow replaces former MP Aden Duale who was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Defence by President William Ruto in October last year.
The MP-elect enjoyed support from the seasoned politician during intense campaigns witnessed in the constituency in the last two months.
Duale formally announced his support for Dekow in late November after a series of meetings with elders drawn from his Abduwak clan.
Elsewhere in Elgeyo Marakwet, two candidates in the county's Senatorial by-election race have conceded defeat before the announcement of the final results by IEBC.
Lawyer Tim Kipchumba of the Party for Peace and Development on Thursday night said he had already congratulated UDA's candidate, William Kisang on his win.
"A few minutes to midnight yesterday, I called Senator Kisang and congratulated him. I assured him of my support as the Senator-elect of Elgeyo Marakwet," he said.
Human rights activist and Safina party candidate Jerotich Seii said: "WaKenya, those weren't the results we had hoped for lakini asiyekubali kushindwa si mshindani. The complex world of politics isn't for jokes," Seii said.
Immediate former Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, who was appointed to Cabinet in October last year, has also congratulated Kisang.
"Congratulations Hon. William Kisang on your election as the second Senator of Elgeyo Marakwet County. Thank you to the people of EMC for having faith in the leadership of Kenya Kwanza by voting in a UDA candidate," Murkomen said.
He added: "To my friend Tim Kipchumba I am very confident in your present and future contributions to the community and nation-building. That was a very good fight and your time is coming."
