UDA and Jubilee face off in two ward by-elections

Voters in two wards will today elect representatives in contests largely billed to be between Jubilee and UDA parties.

In Taita Taveta’s Mahoo ward, about 6,000 registered voters are expected to cast their ballot across 13 polling stations.

The poll is a litmus test for UDA following the recent visits by Deputy President William Ruto to the area.

Jubilee led by Taveta MP Naomi Shaban and Governor Granton Samboja are also using the polls to weigh their popularity ahead of General Elections.

ODM backed out of the race in support of Jubilee candidate Fundi Banton. Samboja has since declared his support for ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Meanwhile, UDA’s Daniel Kimuyu is also enjoying the support of former Governor John Mruttu who has declared his interest to battle Samboja in 2022.

Kimuyu and Banton battled it out in the last general election where the UDA candidate emerged second while his Jubilee counterpart emerged third.

In Meru, several candidates are seeking to replace Kiagu ward MCA Eunice Karegi who died in May.

About a month ago, Ruto opened a new UDA office at Chaaria during his last two-day tour of Meru.

The UDA’s Simon Kiambi, Jubilee’s Samson Magambo and CCK associated with Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria are among the candidates.

It is an election that has attracted the attention of local kingpins.

On one corner is the UDA camp led by Meru Senator Mithika Linturi and Central Imenti MP Moses Kirima, key allies of the DP. 

On the other corner is Agriculture CS Peter Munya’s brigade which includes several MCAs who campaigned for Magambo of Jubilee.

Munya’s camp was able to convince National Ordinary People Empowerment Union candidate Nathan Gitonga to back out of the race in favour of the Jubilee candidate.

Kiagu is one of the four wards in Central Imenti, and one of the pressing calls by residents is a long-standing border dispute pitting them and residents across the river in Tharaka Nithi.

[Additional Reporting by George Kaimenyi]