Little-known first timers and youthful aspirants have pulled a surprise in the UDA primaries after they felled big names in Deputy President William Ruto’s party.
They went against all the odds to trounce well-heeled, influential and powerful incumbents and politicians. Some of the losers are Ruto's close allies who have controlled the party and the country’s politics for years.
Coming from the UDA dominated zones – mostly Rift Valley and Mt Kenya – the victories in the nominations have set them on course for the general election on on August 9.
As the results continued to stream in on Friday, a day after the countrywide exercise that was partly marred by chaos, several big names were toppled.
They include Bomet Woman Representative Joyce Korir, Laikipia Woman Rep Cate Waruguru, Nyandarua Senator Mwangi Githiomi and Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura.
Former Energy CS Charles Keter and former PS John Mosonik were trailing in the polls by press time on Friday evening.
Several sitting MPs also lost. They include Jane Kihara (Naivasha), Wilson Kogo (Chesumei), Vincent Tuwei (Mosop), Gichuhi Mwangi (Tetu) and John Muchiri Nyaga (Manyatta).
However, some political stalwarts and incumbents captured the party tickets as they sought to retain their seats in the general election.
They include nominated MP Cecil Mbarire who secured the UDA ticket to run for Embu governor.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang and his Bomet counterpart Hillary Barchok captured party tickets to defend their seats.
MPs who secured the party tickets are Charity Kathambi (Njoro), Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Githinji Gichimu (Gichugu), Martha Wangari (Gilgil), Joshua Kandie (Baringo Central), Kuria Kimani (Molo) and George Kariuki (Ndia).
Others are Daniel Rono (Keiyo South), Johana Ngeno (Emurua Dikirr), Kinuthia Gachobe (Subukia), Daniel Tuitoek (Mogotio) and Charles Kemuren (Baringo South) and Joseph Tonui (Kuresoi South).
MPs Janet Sitienei (Turbo) and former MP Ainapkoi Samuel Chepkonga also won nominations.
Uasin Gishu assembly Speaker David Kiplagat won the UDA ticket for the Soy MP seat.
In Kiambu, sources indicated Senator Kimani Wamatangi is ahead of MP Patrick Wainaina in the race for the ticket for governor.
In Uasin Gishu, Jonathan Bii and Ambassador Julius Bitok were neck and neck. Final results had not been released by press time.
However, it was the defeat of incumbents and seasoned political stalwarts by newcomers that came as a shocker.
In Bomet, Woman Rep Korir lost to little known 24-year-old Linet Chepkorir, popularly known as Toto.
She was headed to victory as early as Friday morning even as votes continued to trickle from all constituencies that showed her in the lead.
Toto shot to fame during an aspirants’ meeting at Ruto’s Karen residence in early 2021.
It was a single photo with an old-fashioned pose while clad in yellow pullover and a cap that propelled her to prominence.
She became the darling of youth and women and despite financial challenges, supporters helped her campaign.
In the governor's race in Bomet, incumbent Governor Hillary Barchok got 120,725 votes to trounce his closest rival, CAS John Mosonik who got 62,688 votes.
In the race for senator, Hillary Sigei triumphed with 77,500 over incumbent Christopher Langat who got 65,006.
Nominated ODM and former Knut boss Wilson Sossion got 45,371.
In Uasin Gishu, politician Jonathan Bii won the UDA primaries for the governor seat. He polled 71,152 votes against his closet rival, former envoy Julius Bitok who got 59,001.
In third place was Vesca Kangogo who got 7,463 votes, while former envoy Sarah Serem got 19,112.
Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago won the ticket for the Senate seat with 75,847 votes.
His main rival, lawyer Kipchumba Karoli, got 55,854 votes.
Gladys Shollei won the ticket for woman representative with 94,343 against her main rival, Rael Chebichi, who got 54,961 votes.
Earlier on, UDA was forced to send Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga to Eldoret following confusion and a statement announcing nomination results in Moiben constituency.
A day-long stalemate ensued between two groups allied to former MP Joseph Lagat and politician Phyllis Bartoo.
Both had claimed victory in the UDA MP ticket for Moiben but there was confusion over tallying in some polling stations.
Police were forced to twice fire in the air to disperse supporters of the two aspirants. Area Returning Officer Aaron Chemonis was unable to announce results for the most of the day, forcing the party to send in Senator Omanga.
The stalemate caused a delay in declaration of results for the governor and Senate race in the county.
In Kericho, former CS Keter was trailing lecturer Eric Mutai, who was making his first stab at politics, in the battle for UDA ticket for Kericho governor.
Keter is one of the seasoned and experienced politicians from Rift Valley. He is a close ally of the DP Ruto, the UDA party leader.
Outspoken Waruguru lost the UDA nominations to Amin Deddy. The Laikipia Woman Rep got 5,595 votes against Deddy’s 12,743 votes.
In neighbouring Nyandarua county, Senator Githiomi, a seasoned politician, lost to 35-year-old John Methu.
Methu secured 22,473 votes against Githiomi’s 3,799 votes.
UDA has shown the country despite meagre resources, we can organise free, credible elections ahead of the main event in August
Soy MP Caleb Kositany and Senator Mwaura lost their bids for the ticket for Uasin Gishu governor and Ruirui MP, respectively.
In Nyeri, Tetu MP Gichuhi Mwangi lost his bid for the governor ticket.
In Naivasha, incumbent MP Jane Kihara lost to her predecessor, John Kihagi. Kihara got 9,991 votes against Kihagi’s 10,394.
“UDA has shown the country that despite meagre resources, we can organise free and credible elections ahead of the main event in August,” Kihagi said.
National Assembly Deputy Speaker Moses Cheboi lost his bid to defend his Kuresoi North MP seat to his local MCA, Alfred Mutua, a former charcoal dealer. Mutua won 17,247 votes. Cheboi won 12,454 votes.
Keiyo North MP James Murgor lost to newcomer Adams Kipsanai who garnered 6,523 votes. Murgor got 6,383 votes.
In Nandi, Aldai constituency, Marianne Kitany, former chief of staff in the DP’s office, trounced incumbent Cornelly Serem.
Chesumei MP Wilson Kogo lost to businessman Paul Biego while his Mosop counterpart Vincent Tuwei lost the primary to Abraham Kirwa.
On Friday, Senator Mwaura rejected the nomination results for a parliamentary seat that put his competitor Simon Ng'ang'a in the lead.
There was also leakage of ballot papers. Violence was introduced in my strongholds especially in Mwiki ward ...We demand serious investigations
Preliminary results indicate that King’ara is leading with 4,688 votes against Mwaura’s 2,260 votes.
Speaking to his supporter’s on Friday morning, Mwaura said the activity was unfair and demanded the exercise be repeated.
He demanded the polls be repeated, branding his competitor a Jubilee ‘mole’ who decamped to UDA just recently.
“There was also leakage of ballot papers. Violence was also introduced in my strongholds especially in Mwiki ward,” Mwaura said.
“We are demanding serious investigations, we have already appealed to the party. The results being read here are null and void,” Mwaura said at the Ruiru tallying centre.
In Gatundu North, former MP Kigo Njenga won the UDA ticket.
Kigo garnered 12,092 votes, trouncing his main competitor Bernard Karanja who got 5,736 votes in primaries characterised by low turnout.
“This is a big win for us and we will now focus on uniting our people ahead of the August 9 general elections and I am optimistic that we will win with a landslide,” Kigo said.
In Juja subcounty, the incumbent George Koimburi won the ticket after garnering 6,790 votes, beating his closest rival Prof Joseph Kang’ethe, also known as Mustard, who got 4,257 votes.
Koimburi won the Juja by-election, held on May 18, 2021, following the death of former MP Francis Munyua, also known as Wakapee, on the People’s Empowerment Party ticket.
(Edited by V. Graham)
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