Embakasi Central MP-elect to end tribalism in second term

Embakasi Central MP-elect Benjamin Gathiru has promised to serve all residents and end tribalism in the constituency.

Gathiru alias Mejjadonk was re-elected on the UDA ticket after garnering 48,277 votes against his opponent, Samuel Mwangi's 29,375 votes.

Mwangi, who was contesting on the Jubilee Party ticket, conceded defeat.

Gathiru was first elected as Embakasi Central MP in 2017 on the Jubilee Party ticket.

“We will change Embakasi Central to make sure there is no tribalism. We just have one tribe called Embakasi Central residents and that is the tribe we belong to.

“Being a cosmopolitan constituency, we have tried our level best to serve people and change the tribal narrative,” Gathiru said on Thursday.

The MP-elect, however, called for peace among Kenyans, even as tallying of the presidential votes continues at the national tallying centre in Bomas of Kenya.

He termed his win as a win for the people. Embakasi Central recorded 145,892 registered voters compared to 131,991 in 2017.

The subcounty has five wards — Matopeni-Spring Valley, Komarock, Kayole North, Kayole Central and Kayole South.

Gathiru, a close ally of DP Ruto, was the first UDA candidate to be declared the winner in Nairobi.

His counterparts George Theuri (Embakasi West), Nixon Korir (Lang'ata) and John Kiarie (Dagoretti South) lost their seats.

For MCAs, Collins Omondi defeated his opponents to win the Kayole South seat.

Omondi got 11,579 votes, beating John Kamau Wakaba who garnered 8,178 votes. Benson Kariuki came last in the hotly contested seat with 204 votes.

Jeremiah Karani was also announced the Kayole Central MCA-elect after getting 6,219 votes, while Patrick Muturi finished second with 4,343 votes. Washington Mwagi came last with 100 votes.

The IEBC further declared Chris Wanjohi as the Komarock MCA-elect after gathering 6,057 votes against John Kamau Muthiga, who got 5,208 votes. Samuel Mbatia got 89 votes.

The Kayole North MCA seat was won Paul Wachira, who got 8,222 votes, with his close rival John Kanyoro Mwangi coming second with 4,880 votes. David Mucheni trailed with 111 votes.

In Matopeni ward, returning officer Justus Mbithi declared James Koria as the MCA-elect with 3,524 votes, while Swaleh Wanjiru came second with 2,965 votes. John Nyamai came last with just 50 votes.

Nairobi has 17 subcounties and 85 wards. As per the 2019 population and housing census, Nairobi had 4,397,073 million residents.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)