The broad-based government formed following a pact between the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has swept all parliamentary seats in the just concluded by-elections, dealing a major blow to the united opposition.
The broad-based outfit clinched victories in Malava, Ugunja, Kasipul, Mbeere North, Magarini and Banisa constituencies.
President Ruto’s UDA won Malava, Mbeere North and Banisa while ODM Party grabbed Ugunja, Kasipul and Magarini.
In Mbeere North, UDA’s candidate Leonard Wa Muthende was declared MP elect, defeating his closest competitor Newton Karish, in tightly contested race. Wa Muthende garnered 15, 802 votes while Democratic Party’s Newton Kariuki Ndigwa came second with 15,308 votes.
The ruling party once again secured the Malava MP seat after the Returning Officer Salim Abdala announced David Ndakwa the winner with 21,564 votes against DAP-K’s Seth Panyako, who received 20,210 votes.
Ahmed Maalim Hassan will also fill the vacant Banisa parliamentary seat following the death of his brother Kulow Maalim Hassan. According to IEBC tallied results, Ahmed Maalim got 10,431 votes, defeating his closest challenger, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) candidate Nurdin Maalim Mohamed, who garnered 1,240 votes.
Elsewhere, Oburu Oginga led ODM party successfully retained its seat in Ugunja, previously held by Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi. Moses Omondi claimed a decisive victory, securing 9,447 votes, finishing ahead of Eng. Odhiambo Orodi of the Wiper Patriotic Front, who got 1,819 votes.
In Kasipul Constituency, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission declared ODM’s Boyd Were as the dully elected Member of the National Assembly. Were triumphed with an impressive 16,819 votes, ahead of his close challenger Philip Aroko, who garnered 8,476 votes.
Magarini race posed no challenge for the orange party after its candidate, won the seat with 17,909 votes, ahead of Stanley Karisa Kenga of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP)- who came in second with 8,907 votes.
Speaking on Friday November 29 during the launch of the Rironi-Mau Summit Road, in Kamandura, Kiambu County, President Ruto lauded the Broad-Based victory in the by-elections, while slamming the opposition for lacking a concrete plan for Kenyans.
He attributed the opposition’s loss to the overreliance on tribal politics at the expense of presenting a clear, issue-based agenda for the people.
“Out of seven parliamentary seats, all of them were won by the broad-based government. Some people have no agenda and no plan. They will come here and tell you Kasongo, wantam and must go,” Ruto noted.
“They don’t know how roads will be constructed, they only know the politics of tribalism and division. That is not an agenda,” he added.
He also thanked voters for making a bold statement and shunning what he termed as divisive politics.
Nandi County Senator Samson Cherargei on his part, congratulated the broad-based candidates for winning Thursday’s mini polls, asserting that it was a mark of determination and hard work during the campaigns. He urged them to, “go and serve the country with unwavering commitment and sacrifice for a better society.”
He highlighted President Ruto, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and their partners in ODM as the biggest winners in the by-elections. He added that the results was a clear indication that the President Ruto will secure a second term in the 2027 general elections.
