Businessman Joshua Oron has clinched the Kisumu Central parliamentary seat after garnering 54, 060 votes.
Oron who was vying on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party ticket was declared winner by Returning Officer (RO) Yegon Kibos after more than 24 hours of tallying results from 222 polling stations.
The outgoing MP Fred Ouda who was running as an independent candidate after losing to Oron in ODM primaries came in second after garnering 26, 104 votes.
Kisumu County Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Executive Secretary Zablon Awange who was running as an independent came a distant third with 653 votes.
Others in the race included Commissioner of Scouts Victor Radido who managed 559 votes, Brian Peterson 526 votes and Eliud Opany came in fifth with 420 votes.
According to the RO, the constituency which is the largest in Kisumu County registered 63.2 percent voter turnout.
Kibos said the turnout was low with 82,358 voters out of 130, 149 total registered voters taking part in the exercise.
In his acceptance speech, Oron attributed the win to overwhelming support he received from family, campaign team and supporters. “It has not been an easy path but the team I started with walked with me all through this journey and I appreciate them,” he said.
He assured area residents that he will serve the entire constituency without discrimination to ensure that all his campaign pledges are fulfilled.
Oron further described the outgoing MP as a worthy competitor promising to work together with his supporters to steer the constituency to greater heights.
The MP elect, who runs a chain of hospitals and a hotel in the lakeside city received unwavering support from the jua kali sector and traders who are hoping to have their working environment improved.
James Onyango, a jua kali artisan said he hopes the MP elect will fulfill his pledge of building sheds for the over 10, 000 workers in the sector.
By Chris Mahandara
