Kirima Mubichi of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is the new MCA for Nyaki West ward in Imenti North Constituency, Meru County after clinching the seat in a hotly contested race that was held on Monday.
Mr Mubichi garnered 2,026 votes against his closest competitor Mr Lewis Kithinji from the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) commonly referred to as Bus who managed 1,976 votes.
The win by the UDA candidate now disappoints the Bus party which was eager to maintain the majority in the Meru County Assembly.
At the moment, both UDA and Bus party have 13 MCAs each in the Assembly and the former may carry the day if the total number of votes garnered would be considered to determine the majority party in the house.
Other candidates who followed closely include Mr Hillary Mutuma Mugambi (Independent) who garnered 1,968 votes while Mr Joseph Mworia another independent candidate managed 1.944 votes.
Elections in the ward were postponed after Mr Mugambi’s name was found missing from the ballot paper during the August 9 elections.
After he was declared the winner by North Imenti Returning Officer Ms Caren Mwangi, Mr Mubichi thanked his supporters expressing his willingness to work with his competitors to enhance development in the ward.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank my supporters and my party for supporting me up to this end. I promise to work hard including consulting my competitors to get the ideas they had so we can together join hands in uplifting the standards of our ward,” he said.
Elections in the ward were characterized by low voter turnout with only 46.6 percent of the 21,000 registered voters casting their votes.
Elected leaders from the UDA party who included MPs and MCAs led by outgoing Senator Mithika Linturi were part of the team who joined Mubichi to celebrate his victory.
The leaders lauded IEBC for conducting a free and fair election and security officers for enhancing security during the exercise.
By Dickson Mwiti
