UDA dominates Murang'a MP races

Three UDA candidates grabbed landslide victories in the parliamentary race in Murang'a county in Tuesday's general election. 

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro retained his seat with a wide margin victory of  68,256 votes against his closest rival Karanja Wamatangi (Jubilee) who managed 9,425 votes.

Judy Makira came in third with 1,391 votes.

Ndindi lauded his supporters for re-electing him overwhelmingly after he was declared the winner.

“We have worked together for five years now and I thank you for the confidence and overwhelming victory. You have given me close to 90 per cent of the votes," he said.

Ndindi did not campaign in the constituencies and focused on national rallies to popularise UDA presidential candidate, William Ruto.

The legislator said his constituents asked him to focus on national politics saying he had already swayed the ‘ground’.

Ndindi revealed that a voter sent him a text message saying if he prints campaign posters, he would have wronged locals.

“When the campaigns started, a man from Gituto told me would have wronged them if I produced posters. He said the schools I have tiled and the work I had accomplished should be my posters," Nyoro said.

"I almost chickened out but he sent me another message insisting that I should not do contrary to his advice."

In Mathioya, Edwin Mugo won the parliamentary race with 21,503 votes.

Mugo, a UDA party member, trounced incumbent Peter Kimari of Jubilee who came in second with 8,790 votes. 

Mugo, who started his political career in 2013 could not hide his joy for finally getting the chance to serve Mathioya people.

"Mathioya has spoken with a loud voice. I'm ready to work with everybody including those supported him and those who did not," Mugo said after receiving his certificate at the constituency tallying centre. 

The MP-elect pledged to have a consultative and participatory leadership that will ensure locals access better education and more power and water connections.

Mugo extended an olive branch to his competitors including the out-going MP to shelve their rivalry and help him serve locals better.

"It has been a fight but let us join hands for sake of Mathioya. I'm ready to work with my competitors because it is not about me, it’s about servitude."

Mathioya constituency was hived off Kangema constituency in 1997 at a time when there were supremacy battles between the then Kanu secretary general Joseph Kamotho and former minister John Michuki.

Kangema had become a hostile battleground for the two leaders whose  campaigns were chaotic for years.

Maina Njakwe became the pioneer MP after the formation of the constituency after he defeated Kamotho whom the new constituency was meant to benefit.

Kamotho was a close ally of the then President Daniel Moi.

The former Education Minister, however, captured the seat in the 2002 general election and held the seat until 2007 when he lost to Clement Wambugu.

Wambugu stayed at the helm until the 2017 elections.

Mathioya and Kangema are constituent constituencies of the larger Mt Kenya region alongside Othaya, Mukurwe-ini and Tetu in Nyeri, Ndaragwa in Nyandarua and Mbeere South and Mbeere North in Embu.

Kangema and Mathioya are protected constituencies, meaning they have no population threshold but cannot be abolished.

In Kangema, Peter Kihungi was declared the winner with 20,011 votes.

He was followed by George Kibuku (Jubilee) who got 8,341 votes while Simon Karema came third with 4,842 votes.

Kihungi served as a councilor and chairperson of the defunct Murang’a County Council and helped instigate coffee debt waivers issued by the government before he rose to become an MCA in 2013.

He thanked locals for identifying the leadership qualities in him saying he has had a long political career.

"This is a debt I have incurred and I will pay it. I will not let you down. My competitors, I know you had a vision for Kangema. Let us come together and build our constituency," he said as he asked his competitors to support his leadership.

Kangema constituency was led by Michuki since 1997 until his death in 2012.

Tirus Ngahu took over until 2017 when he lost to Muturi Kigano.

Kigano failed to defend his seat at the 2022 polls after he lost the Jubilee party nominations.