By ERICK ODUOR
In Summary
- Several MPs and Members of County Assemblies allied to the two leading presidential candidates — President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga — have been eliminated in the early stages of the elections, forcing some to run as independent candidates.
- More women stand a chance of clinching key elective positions in the forthcoming General Election after winning tickets of dominant political parties in the primaries.
- Attention will now turn to the IEBC to deliver credible elections.
Fresh candidates and independents will dominate Kenya’s
parliament, after the majority of sitting Members of the National
Assembly and Senate were defeated in political party nominations last
week. The exercise came to an end on April 30.
Several MPs and Members of County Assemblies allied to the two
leading presidential candidates — President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila
Odinga — have been eliminated in the early stages of the elections,
forcing some to run as independent candidates.
Politicians who quit their parties have been streaming into
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) headquarters in
Nairobi to register as independent candidates.
Women candidates
More women stand a chance of clinching key elective positions in
the forthcoming General Election after winning tickets of dominant
political parties in the primaries.
At least three women are on the verge of becoming governors
while two got clearance to seek senatorial seats, which is an
improvement from the last General Election where men won all the seats.
Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso and former Devolution Cabinet
Secretary Ann Waiguru could become the first women governors in Kenya,
having won Jubilee Party tickets in counties where winning the primaries
almost guarantees winning in the General Election.
Former Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu, party leader of
National Rainbow Coalition, already has a ticket to take on Kitui
Governor Julius Malombe and Senator David Musila in the August 8 polls.
Mr Malombe beat Mr Musila to win a Wiper Democratic Movement ticket but
Mr Musila immediately resigned from the party and intends to run as an
independent candidate.
Voters rejected several high-profile leaders within the inner circles of President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga.
In Jubilee, Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, Kigumo MP Jamleck
Kamau, Nyeri Senator Mutahi Kagwe and Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire all
lost. In the larger Central Kenya region, the majority of MPs lost in
the primaries. Only one out of six MPs in Nyeri County won in the
primaries.
President Kenyatta, has, however, reached out to the losers,
urging them to support those who won to help the party win the August
polls.
Mr Odinga’s brother Oburu Oginga, who wields a lot of influence
in ODM, awaits his fate after conflicting reports about his loss and
then win in the Bondo parliamentary primaries.
Mr Odinga also lost Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu while
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, who until 2002 served as his personal
assistant, is being investigated by the party for alleged irregularities
during the primaries.
Deputy President William Ruto lost Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi and a host of MPs and MCAs.
Mr Ruto’s key ally Zedekiah Kiprop Bundotich alias Buzeki, who
caused a stir in the Uasin Gishu gubernatorial race, was defeated by
incumbent Jackson Mandago. Attention will now turn to the IEBC to deliver credible elections.
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