Outgoing Mwatate MP Andrew Mwadime has won the Taita Taveta County governor seat.
Mwadime, an independent candidate, was declared the winner by IEBC County returning officer Esha Mohammed on Saturday morning.
Wakujaa, as he is referred to by his supporters trounced the incumbent governor Granton Samboja with 49,901 votes to win the county top seat.
Samboja of the Jubilee party came a distant second with a staggering 23,703 votes.
Former governor John Mruttu (UDA) finished third with 13,865 votes while former senator Dan Mwazo (Wiper) got 11,543 votes in the fourth position.
Mwadime becomes the second governor to be elected on an independent ticket after Meru’s Kawira Mwangaza who defeated the incumbent Kiraitu Murungi.
The crowded contest had polled 13 contestants.
They included political newcomers like Stephen Mwakesi (PEP), media personality Patience Nyange (Narc), George Mwandembo (DAP), Prof Agnes Mwang'ombe (ANC), Godino Mwasaru (Independent), Onsemus Mwinzi (Independent), Tom Mwakwida, (ODM), Faustin Mghendi (TSP) and Safina’s Francis Mwaita.
The governor-elect in an interview said he shall prioritize revamping the region's economy and helping residents boost agricultural production.
"My team has a long list of priorities but we shall deal with fighting hunger and revamping the economy," he said.
He said he will bring all other leaders together to strategize on how to bring development to the region.
Earlier, Mwadime's supporters had protested the delay in the declaration of the results.
They said the polls body had taken more than 73 hours to tally and declare results despite the low voter turnout.
"Other counties with hundreds of votes to tally have already declared results while we are still here tallying less than one hundred votes," Harrison Kamwana said.
He said the delay had caused anxiety among supporters.
