Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s ODM party has lost both the Embakasi South and Ugenya by-elections to dent a major blow to one of Kenya’s most popular party.
Wiper Candidate in the Embakasi South by-election Julius Musili Mawathe retained his seat after garnering 21,628 votes against Irshard Sumra of ODM who managed 7,988 votes.
Ruto was allegedly bankrolling Wiper candidate Mr Julius mawathe.
Returning Officer Abdikadir Abdullahi made the announcement Saturday morning the after conclusion of tallying of results from the Constituency’s 221 polling stations.
Mawathe who was gracious in victory said he considers his reelection as a vote of confidence in the development work he had done before he was “sent on leave by the courts”.
The by election was necessitated after the Supreme Court nullified Mawathe’s victory in the 2017 general election in which he beat Sumra by a difference of 165 votes. The ODM candidate conceeded defeat attributing his failure to recapture the seat to poor campaign strategy.
“I am a veteran in politics, I have my numbers and I just want to say that this time I lost fair and square because my finishing was poor. It was a lack of planning on my part I will not shift blame to anyone,” said Sumra. He wished Mawathe well as he pledged to support him as he performs his mandate.
In Ugenya ODM lost to Movement for Democracy and Growth party candidate David Ochieng.
Mr Ochieng garnered 18,730 votes to defeat ODM’s Chris Karan who got 14,507 votes. Other contestants were Daniel Juma of Grand Dreams Development party who garnered 78 votes followed by Thirdway Alliance party’s Brian Omondi (27).
Jubilee party had opted to support the wiper candidate mr Julius Mawathe whom Moses Kuria among other candidates had declared suitable.
political pundits believes that William Ruto used Mawathe candidature to measure his popularity in preparation for 2022.
They now believe that Mr Odinga is losing his popularity at a high rate compared to a decade ago where he would declare candidate and win.
In Ugenya ODM also lost to a little known political party.
Upon the result declaration a lot there was massive destruction after ODM supporters refuted the results.
They broke the chairs even after their candidate declared that the results were free and fair.