Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu loses ODM primaries to MP Mwadeghu

Taita Taveta Governor, John Mruttu, becomes the first sitting governor to lose in the ongoing party nominations.

Governor Mruttu lost in the ongoing Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominations to Wudanyi Member of Parliament, Thomas Mwadeghu.

Mr Mwadeghu garnered 18,421 votes against Mruttu’s 15,911 votes in the Coastal County.

Mruttu has, however, disputed the results calling for a repeat of the exercise in five polling stations including Challa, Jipe and Mahandakini Primary Schools, St. Joseph Kivukoni and Orkung polling stations.

The incumbent says the results are unsatisfactory as the voting process in the two areas started late due to delay in delivery of materials and this may have tilted the results in favour of Mr Mwadeghu.

Mruttu further argues that of the five polling stations he is disputing, only two did the actual voting due to the delay in delivery of the polling materials as well as disruption of the voting process by heavy rains that pounded the area.

However, the county elections board chair, Anderson Mwaluma, says the primaries will not be repeated unless directed by the party’s National Elections Board chair, Judith Pareno.