NAIROBI, Kenya Nov 28 – Leonard Muthende of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has been declared the MP-elect for Mbeere North after winning Thursday’s by-election.
Muthende garnered 15,802 votes, narrowly edging out his closest challenger, Newton Kariuki (Karish) of the Democratic Party (DP), who secured 15,308 votes.
The closely fought race drew significant attention amid chaotic scenes at various polling stations, which heightened political tensions throughout the day.
The IEBC declared the results early Friday morning, handing UDA a crucial victory. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who was instrumental in the party’s campaigns, was present during the announcement alongside several leaders, including Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku.
In Homa Bay, Boyd Were of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was declared the MP-elect for Kasipul Constituency, securing 16,819 votes against independent candidate Philip Aroko, who garnered 8,476 votes.
Boyd succeeds his father, former MP Ong’ondo Were, who was killed in Nairobi in what investigators described as an assassination.
The Kasipul by-election was marked by day-long violence in some areas. Several people were injured, among them Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who suffered serious head injuries after being attacked by a group of youth. Despite the tension, IEBC officials reported that voting proceeded smoothly in the majority of polling stations, with results trickling in through the night.
ODM supporters broke into celebrations as Boyd Were received his certificate — a symbolic win for the party in the Nyanza region barely a month after the death of its party leader Raila Odinga, who passed away in India.
In Siaya, Moses Omondi Okoth of ODM was elected Ugunja MP, securing 9,447 votes.
In Nyamira, Jackson Mogusu of PDP clinched the Nyansiongo Ward seat with 2,759 votes, narrowly defeating Kevin Maranga of UPA, who received 2,687 votes.
In Mandera, UDA’s Ahmed Maalim Hassan was elected Banisa MP after obtaining 10,431 votes, ahead of UPA’s Nurdin Maalim Mohamed, who garnered 1,240 votes.
In Machakos County, Antony Kisoi of Wiper was declared the winner of the Mumbuni North Ward by-election with 3,849 votes, reinforcing the party’s dominance in the region.
In Samburu, UDA’s Isabella Leshimpiro won the Angata Nanyekie Ward seat with 1,239 votes.
In Narok County, Douglas Twala Masikonde of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) clinched the Narok Town Ward seat after securing 6,007 votes. He defeated UDA’s Robert Kanyinke Ole Kudate, who garnered 4,479 votes.
The Narok contest followed the death of MCA Lukas Kudate in February, turning the race into a high-stakes political battle. UDA had fronted the late MCA’s firstborn son, Kanyinke Ole Kudate, in an effort to retain the seat.
