Jubilee sails through in Nyeri as ODM takes Kwale by-election

Erastus Karanja of Jubilee Party has emerged the winner of the Ruguru Ward by-election in Nyeri County.

He garnered 4,270 votes while his closest rival James Ndegwa of Maendeleo Chap Chap came second with 3,946 votes.

The by-election that took place on Wednesday, saw 59 percent of the total 14,014 registered voters take part in the exercise across 26 polling stations.

In Kwale, Omari Hamisi Pweza (ODM) emerged as the new County Assembly member for Kinondo Ward. He beat his rival Juma Maone (Jubilee) with 3,412 votes.

Maone garnered 2,704 votes in the by-election that was a result of a court ruling that had earlier dismissed his victory in last year’s general elections.

The High Court in Kwale found that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) erroneously announced Maone as victor on August 8, 2017.

Earlier in the day, there was drama at the Nyeri by-election when a female election observer was assaulted at Kiamariga Police Station.

An alleged supporter of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua was captured on video slapping Martha Miano, an observer for the Political Parties Liaison Committee.

In the video that was recorded on phone, one person is heard questioning Ms. Miano’s role in the by-election.

The Mathira MP however denied any involvement in the confrontation and instead accused her of being partisan.

Additional reporting by Nicky Gitonga