Wavinya Ndeti Beats UDA Boss

Ndeti upset United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman, Johnson Muthama to clinch the top county seat with 226,609 votes.

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Aug 13, 2022 - 07:15 Updated: Aug 13, 2022 - 07:35
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Wavinya Ndeti Beats UDA Boss
Newly-elected Machakos Governor, Wavinya Ndeti. /STANDARD DIGITAL

Wiper Party candidate Wavinya Ndeti has officially been elected the Machakos Governor.

Ndeti upset United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairman, Johnson Muthama to clinch the top county seat with 226,609 votes. Coming in second was former State House Chief of Staff, Nzioka Waita with 129,181 votes.

Muthama came in third with 37,980 votes. Other candidates who vied for the seat include Maendeleo Chap Chap’s Francis Maliti who got 9,981 votes and Rose Mulwa who scored 4,424 votes.

Former State House Chief of Staff, Nzioka Waita. /FILE

Waita had on Friday, August 12 conceded defeat and congratulated Ndeti, wishing her success as she takes over the reign.

Read also: List Of New Governors- 2022 Elections

"I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate our incoming Governor for the County of Machakos Hon. Wavinya Ndeti. I wish her and her team every success as she takes over the reign of County 016," he stated.

"We have no regrets in entering this race. We put our best foot forward. Our ideas were good but our opponent's tactics were better."

Machakos will have an all-female top county leadership, the second county in Kenya after Nakuru.

Agnes Kavindu of the Wiper Party successfully defended her senatorial seat with 155,883 votes, beating ODM's Urbanus Mutunga Muthama, who managed to get 65,606 votes.

In the Woman Representative race, Joyce Kamene Kasimbi retained her seat, having bagged 253,106 votes out of the 413,875 votes cast.

Wavinya's victory comes a day after Nakuru County swept all the top positions, becoming the first county to elect at least one female leader at every stage of governance, starting from the governor to the Member of the County Assembly (MCA).

The leadership now consists of a female Governor, a female Senator, a Woman Representative, four Women Members of Parliament as well as several MCAs.

Newly elected Nakuru Governor, Susan Kihika caused an upset in the county by unseating incumbent, Lee Kinyanjui, preventing him from securing a second term in office. The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate garnered 440,707 votes against Kinyanjui's 225,623 votes.

"Thank you to the great people of Nakuru County for giving me a resounding mandate to be the 3rd Governor.

"It is a huge privilege and honour with great responsibility. I will give it my all, and together we will get it on the path to economic prosperity and make it work for all!" Kihika stated. 

Around the same time the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared her the winner, Keroche Breweries CEO Tabitha Karanja was declared the county's senator, beating the likes of John Mututho, by garnering 442,864 votes against his 36,432 votes.

In the parliamentary races, Jayne Kihara retained her Naivasha parliamentary seat after garnering 44,882 votes against her competitor John Kihagi who got 24,891.

Newly elected MP Irene Njoki snatched the Bahati parliamentary seat from Kimani Ngunjiri with 34,308 votes against Ngunjiri's 26,809 votes.

Martha Wangari bagged the Gilgil Parliamentary seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket with 35,363 votes against her closest rival Mathenge Nderitu who trailed with 19,764 votes.

List of women occupying top positions in Nakuru County. /FILE

Charity Kathambi defended her Njoro Parliamentary Seat as well as Liza Chelule who retained her Woman Representative seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket. Several female MCAs were also elected to represent wards in the Nakuru County Assembly.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru retained her seat, beating independent candidate, Purity Ngirici by over 7,000 votes. Waiguru got 113,088 votes against Ngirici's 105,677 votes following a dramatic scare that saw the two women clash over rigging claims at the county's tallying of votes.

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