Gusii election losers prepare to challenge results in court

Kisii UDA governor candidate Ezekiel Machogu and his Nyamira counterpart Walter Nyambati have vowed to challenge the election of Simba Arati and Amos Nyaribo respectively.  

Machogu alleged that the exercise in Kisii was marred by voter bribery and alteration of figures in favour of Azimio-affiliated candidates.

“For the truth to be known, going to court will be necessary. That is a totally wrong way of forcing oneself into leadership,” the outgoing Nyaribari Masaba MP said.

Former Kitutu Masaba MP Nyambati said there was serious interference from a Cabinet Secretary from Nyamira.

"Provincial administrators in Nyamira and government officials messed up the election. It was a sham," he said.

Nyambati said they will sit down and decide the next course of action.

"We are disappointed that leaders are being imposed on the people. As far as I’m concerned the election was not free, fair and was marred by bribery. I ask my supporters to remain calm. I cannot accept the so-called results,” he said.

Nyaribo of UPA successfully defended his seat after garnering 82,090 votes against Nyambati who got 49,281.

Woman representative loser Emily Nyagarama claimed in a Facebook post that the results were doctored in favour of incumbent Jerusha Momanyi.

Former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara of Jubilee who lost the senatorial seat to ODM’s Richard Onyonka also indicated that he would challenge the result.

Onyonka defeated Magara with 173,189 votes against 121,339.

“Thank you the great Kisii people for standing with me. You did your best but your choice was resisted by dark forces for their selfish gain, using all manner of intimidation and manipulation.

"We lost unfairly, your pain is mine. Stay strong as we focus on the next course of action,” Magara tweeted.

Outgoing Woman Representative Janet Ong’era who lost to former Egesa FM presenter Dorice Donya Aburi said she is grateful to all her supporters who relentlessly waged a good campaign and overwhelmingly voted for her.

“I was however thwarted by lords of darkness through vote buying and undue influence on innocent voters. We live to fight another day for freedom is coming," she said.

Aburi garnered 190,189 votes against Ong’era’s 69,965 while UDA’s Teresa Bitutu had 40,972 votes.

Kitutu Chache South MP loser Andrew Maubi has also vowed to challenge Anthony Kibagendi’s win.

However, Abdalla Matoke who lost the Bomachoge Chache seat to incumbent Alfah Matoke said he will decide his next course of action after auditing results.

Daniel Rogena also disputed the election of ODM's Patrick Osero in Borabu constituency, citing malpractices.  

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)