Deputy President William Ruto’s UDA candidate Simon Ngaruni is the MCA elect for Kiagu Ward by-election in Imenti Central, Meru.
Ngaruni garnered 2,440 votes against his closest challenger Milton Mwenda of Chama Cha Kazi party who garnered 1823 votes.
They were followed closely by Jubilee’s aspirant Samson Kinyua Magambo with 1,609 votes.
The seat fell vacant after the demise of Eunice Karegi who died of cancer in May this year.
It attracted 12 aspirants.
“I ask all my competitors to join me so that we build this Ward. A competition is not enmity. I thank residents for having faith in me and voting me under the UDA party. Let us build it together for progress,” Ngaruni said.
Even before area IEBC returning officer Pamela Karimi announced the results at around 3am on Friday residents who had gathered at the tallying center were in ululations celebrating Ngaruni’s win.
South Imenti MP Kathuri Murungi, Imenti Central MP Kirima Ngushine and Meru senator Mithika Linturi who have been campaigning in the Ward expressed gratitude to the area electorates.
Linturi said said the win for UDA is solid message that Meru people are in UDA.
There was low voter turn out as out of the 11000 registered voters only 7,000 did cast their votes.
Agriculture CS Peter Munya’s allies were campaigning for Jubilee's candidate Magambo of Jubilee.
EALA MP Mpuru Aburi's National Ordinary People Empowerment Union candidate Nathan Gitonga bowed out of the race after gentleman's agreement with Munya's camp.
The IEBC commission had scheduled the by-election for October 14, but the Nairobi High Court barred it from proceeding with printing the names of contenders on ballot papers following the case that had been filed by Salecio Thuranira.
