Kisii: Onchiri, Nyakundi clinch UDA tickets, Bwari joins Muturi’s Democratic Party
United Democratic Alliance ( UDA) Aspirant, Joseph Onchiri has clinched the party’s ticket to vie for the Bobasi parliamentary seat, paving way for him to fly the party’s flag during the August 9 general election.
Onchiri garnered 7,337 votes to win the ticket against his rivals- Gloria Orwoba, 5,587, Sam Nyakundi, 4,395 and Lukas Mogoa, 3,196 during the hotly contested race.
Speaking to the press at Nyamache tallying centre after returning officer, Wilkister Moige handed him the certificate as he lauded residents for supporting him and embracing peace during the election conducted amid heavy downpour.
“The party’s officials conducted the exercise well despite few normal challenges. The exercise was free and fair,” Onchiri said.
In Kitutu Chache North constituency, Japhet Nyakundi garnered 5,475 votes against his rival, Don Bosco Gichana 2,312 while Julius Araka, a US-based politician got a paltry 98 votes.
Nyakundi lauded residents supporting him win while Gichana claimed that some politicians interfered with the exercise marred with rigging.
“The nomination was not free and fair. Some ballot papers were stuffed in boxes and a local politician was campaigning against me” Gichana said, adding he will give his supporters a political direction this week.
Notably, the party’s woman representative aspirant, Lucy Bwari Gitoi ditched UDA and joined Speaker Justine Muturi’s Democratic Party ( DP), over what she termed as frustration.
Bwari, former Gucha branch KNUT executive secretary said UDA’s governorship aspirant, Nyaribari Masaba Member of Parliament, Ezekiel Machogu lured her from United Democratic Movement ( UDM), only to frustrate her.
The hopeful said she took a delegation of teachers, Boda Boda operators and windows to Machogu’s and she was sure of getting the ticket, only to realize the party had someone else in mind.
“He said that there are many aspirants vying for the seat from Bobasi constituency and therefore they want to pick the woman representative from Bonchari to avoid a competition within the party,” Bwari said.
