Ali Mwakulonda wins ODM ticket for Msambweni seat

Msambweni politician Ali Mwakulonda has won the ODM ticket in Msambweni nominations.

The results were announced by the ODM returning officer Solomon Wachira Njeru on Tuesday.  

Mwakulonda thanked ODM supporters for nominating him ahead of the August 9 elections.

"As we know Msambweni is Raila’s stronghold, I promise to ensure that Raila is voted for highly in Msambweni,” Mwakulonda said whilst urging his supporters to remain united. 

He contested for the ticket alongside Sharlet Akinyi, Mahmoud Abdulrahman, Charles Bambo and Bashiri Kilalo.

Mwakulonda garnered 1,155 votes followed by his closest rival Abdulrahman who got 967 votes.

Akinyi came third with 653 votes while Bilal came last with 255 votes.

Mwakulonda will now face current MP Feisal Bader who is seeking re-election on a UDA ticket and candidates from other parties.

Bader became the Msambweni MP in 2020 through a by-election and replaced his uncle, Suleiman Dori who succumbed to cancer.

The primaries were conducted in over 15 polling stations.

The party issued direct tickets to the other political seats.

Hamadi Boga was issued a direct ticket for the Kwale governor seat while the party settled on Issa Boi for the senatorial seat.

Hassan Mwanyoha was given direct ticket for the Matuga parliamentary seat, Zuleikha Juma Hassan for Kinango MP seat while Murabu Chaka got direct nomination for Lunga-Lunga MP seat after his opponent Omari Mbwana Zonga decamped from ODM.

The nomination exercise was, however, marred by delays, missing names and low voter turnout.

Supporters of some candidates clashed over the results questioning the credibility and transparency of the processes leading to delays in some stations.

It took the intervention of ODM officials who assured candidates that the election would be free and fair.

Kwale ODM acting chairperson Shaban Luchesi also said voting tablets were faulty.

He claimed some agents were taking advantage of the illiterate voters who don't know how to operate the gadgets.

Luchesi further claimed that some agents were voting for different candidates of their choice contrary to what the voter had requested.