Ford People looks set for major victory in Nyaribari Chache

By KENAN MIRUKA     

The Ford People looked to spring a surprise and upset political titans CORD and Jubilee coalitions in the Nyaribari Chache by election which was closely contested.

In provisional results from 106 polling stations out of 110 in the constituency, party candidate Richard Tong’i had polled 10,039 votes against his closest challenger, ODM’s Chris Bichage who had polled 9,511 votes.

TNA’s Robert Monda who had exchanged leads with Bichage earlier on was third with 9,049 votes.

The seat fell vacant following a successful petition filed by Tong’i challenging the election of Bichage in the last general elections. The Kisii High court annulled Bichage’s win citing irregularities and ordered a repeat poll.

CORD legislators Simon Ogari (Bomachoge Chache), Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache South) and Women reps Dennitah Ghati, Sally Otara and Alice Chae were present at the tallying hall as returning officer Robert Ng'eny announced the final results.

The results were relayed electronically and beamed live at the Keumbu Social Hall tallying centre.

Voting ended at 5pm but all voters on the queue were allowed to cast their votes. Counting started shortly after 5.30pm with the first results streaming in as from 6pm.

Ford People’s Tong’i and Narc-Kenya’s Rael Otundo were the only candidates present at the tallying centre while IEBC commissioner Abdullahi Sharawe was on hand to oversee the process.