Mwaruma, Haika defend their seats

Taita Taveta Senator Jones Mwaruma and Woman representative Lydia Haika have defended their seats.

The duo were declared winners on Friday by the IEBC County returning officer Esha Mohamed at Taita Taveta University on Saturday morning after a fiery contest.

Mwaruma of ODM defeated his closest opponent and outgoing Sagala MCA Godwin Kilele (Jubilee) with 39,142 votes. Kilele managed to get 26,158 votes.

On the other hand, Haika who vied on Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA party ticket trounced her rival, the former woman representative Joyce Lay of Jubilee to earn a second term.

She won with 38,363 votes against Lay’s 22,076 votes.

Gertrude Shuwe of DAP-K finished a distant third with 16,642 votes.

Speaking shortly after the declaration, Haika lauded her supporters for handing her a second term.

"I want to thank my family, my party and all supporters who walked with me through the campaign period," she said.

She further promised to work with all other elected leaders in bringing change to the region.