Focus on six Ward Rep seats as IEBC winds up campaigns
As political campaigns to fill vacant positions for six county assemblies ended on Saturday, the races are equally going to play as litmus test as giant political parties weigh their supremacy in the mini polls.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) set December 15 for Kahawa Wendani in Nairobi county, Kisumu North in Kisumu, Dabaso in Kilifi, Wundanyi/Mbale wards in Taita Taveta County Gaturi ward in Murang’a county Lake View ward in Naivasha, Nakuru county.
IEBC has cautioned candidates and political parties participating in five by-elections against engaging in further political campaigns after the official period lapsed at midnight on Saturday.
However, in Kiambu the race to fill the vacant position of Kahawa Wendani MCA has now seen as a supremacy war between Kiambu governor James Nyoro and outspoken Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.
On Saturday, Governor James Nyoro traversed the ward campaigning for the Jubilee Party candidate, Kevin Ochien’g Odhiambo, who is the late MCA Cyrus Omondi’s brother.
“Come out in large numbers and make your decision known,” Nyoro told the rally.
Raila Odinga’s ODM did not field a candidate for the seat and instead has been supporting Ochieng'.
On the other hand, Kuria, a close ally of Deputy President William Ruto and who is supporting Bernard Kariuki Karanja of People’s Empowerment Party, told Kahawa Wendani residents that they resorted to seek refuge in Thika to avoid confrontations.
In Kisumu,ODM faced with a daunting task of stamping its authority in the Kisumu North ward by election that has so far given the party’s top brass sleepless nights.
The entry of Movement for democratic growth candidate Hanington Onyango into the race, has narrowed chances of the ODM party retaining the seat.
The Odm brigade is not taking chances in the mini poll that has seen MDG,s party leader and Ugenya Mp David Ochieng criss cross the area to woo voters to support his candidate.
In Dabaso, Kilifi county ODM’s Dickson Karani will be battling with immediate former MCA Emmanuel Changawa who is seeking reelection on an MDG Party ticket.
In Murang’a, nine candidates are set to battle out for the Gaturi ward representative seat. Report by Mathew Ndung’u, Oliver Musembi,Baraka Karama,Roy Lube and Wangari Njuguna
