Independent candidates have outperformed major parties in winning parliamentary seats in some constituencies in the ongoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) vote tallying.
The IEBC has confirmed the wins of eleven independent candidates running against major parties such as ODM, UDA, and Jubilee as of midday on Friday, August 12, 2022.
Kisumu Town East lawmaker, Shakeel Shabir, a third-time MP was re-elected on an independent ticket to service his fourth term after garnering 35,704 votes against ODM's Nicholas Oricho who got 28,491.
Shabbir stated after receiving the certificate that the people's will had been demonstrated.
"I am humbled by the confidence that has been shown by the voters in me. It has reaffirmed that when the people have confidence in you, it does not matter which political party one is linked with," he said.
Ronald Karauri was also declared the Kasarani constituency MP-elect after receiving 32,406 votes against UDA's John Njoroge who got 30,444 and Jubilee's Mercy Gakuya 24,790.
Karauri expressed his joy at becoming the first independent candidate to be elected MP in Nairobi.
"Thank you to the people of Kasarani, and for the trust mumeniwekea, mimi si msee wa mauongo, zile vitu nimesema ntafanya, ntafanya na mnajua (I'm not a liar, I will keep my promises)," he said.
Fatuma Mohamed, an independent candidate, was elected Migori County Woman Representative after defeating ODM incumbent Denittah Ghati with 154,538 votes compared to Ghati's 117,591.
In Imenti North, incumbent Rahim Dawood, who ditched Jubilee Party to seek re-election as an independent candidate, also defended his seat after bagging 26, 218 votes.
Nambale MP-elect Geoffrey Mulanya also emerged victorious with 19,018 votes, against a distant second competitor Kevin Okwara of ODM, who polled 9,659.
Kitilai Ntutu, an independent candidate, won the Narok South parliamentary seat with 17,238 votes, defeating rivals from the UDA and ODM parties.
Other elected independent candidates are: Caroline Ngelechei, Woman Rep-elect (Elgeyo Marakwet) Zainab Chitsangi, (Kinango), Joshua Mwalyo, (Maisinga) Elijah Njoroge, (Gatundu North) and Timothy Toroitich (Marakwet West).
The tallying process is still on as IEBC continues to tally results from different constituencies.
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