• UDA sweeps to victory, claiming most seats in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet.
• Eight MPs were among the big losers, most parliamentary and MCA seats were won by newcomers.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
DP William Ruto's allies celebrated six-piece wins in most of the North Rift region where eight outgoing MPs were among the big losers.
UDA swept to victory, claiming most seats in Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet where vote tallying was slow. IEBC officials only made declarations in a few areas.
Newcomers won most of the parliamentary and MCA seats.
Among the early winners was Professor Phyllis Bartoo who trounced outgoing Moiben MP Silas Tiren. She polled 40,800 votes while Tiren came a distant third with about 8,000.
Other outgoing MPs who lost to UDA were Alfred Keter in Nandi Hills, Vincent Tuwei in Mosop, Cornelly Serem in Aldai, Dr Swarup Mishra in Kesses and Dr James Murgor in Keiyo North .
Keiyo North returning officer Nobert Kemei declared UDA’s Adams Kipsanai had polled 26,560 votes to defeat Murgor who got 11,213 votes.
“I am happy the people of Keiyo North have given me a chance to serve them. I will not let them down,."”, Kipsanai said.
Keter lost to his long time rival, Benard Kitur of UDA.
In the tallying, only two seats in the region appeared likely to be won by independent candidates. Lawyer Timothy Toroitich was leading in Marakwet West where he was expected to defeat outgoing MP William Kisang of UDA.
Independent candidate Carolyne Ngelechie was also leading by a wide margin in the race for woman representative in Elgeyo Marakwet. Outdoing Jane Chebabai of UDA was trailing.
Only two MCAs in Elgeyo Marakwet out of 30 were elected as independents.
Tallying in Elgeyo Marakwet also indicated that outgoing Deputy Governor Wesley Rotich of UDA had won the majority votes to succeed his boss, outgoing Governor Alex Tolgos.
Tolgos, who was vying for the Senate seat, was trailing Senator Kipchumba Murkomen who appeared set for reelection and a third term.
In the Uasin Gishu governor race, tallying showed Jonathan Bii, also known as Koti Moja, had achieved an unassailable lead and had roundly defeated independent candidate Bundotich Kiprop Buzeki.
It appears to be Buzeki's second loss in his quest for the governor's seat.
Outgoing Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago of UDA had virtually won the Senate seat in the county that is home to DP Ruto.
Mandago had polled more than 100,000 votes against about 40,000 for his challenger, Robert Kemei, who was vying as an independent.
“We are happy with how the elections were carried out and proud of our people for keeping peace,”Mandago said.
In Nandi, Governor Stephen Sang retained his seat for a second term as more than 80 per cent of results were tallied.
He had polled more than 120,000 votes, well ahead of former Governor Dr Cleophas Lagat whose comeback attempt failed.
After winning in Moiben, Professor Bartoo said she was proud of her supporters and pledged to serve all residents equally.
“I am also proud of DP Ruto for the support he gave me to win this seat," Bartoo said.
In DP Ruto’s home constituency of Turbo, incumbent MP Janet Sitienei, a Ruto-leaning independent, was locked in a tight race with ODM’s Sam Mugo also known as Samkiz.
Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi had won in tallying of votes in the area where independent candidate Frank Murgor conceded defeat. Sudi, who is a close Ruto ally, won a third term.
Most candidates said the polls had gone very well in most areas and there were none or few hitches, right from voting to counting and tallying.
The IEBC is expected to complete declaration of winners in most areas in the region by the end of Friday.
Returning officer in Uasin Gishu Irene Mutai said the tallying was more than half way concluded in most areas.
(Edited by V. Graham)