Balance of power shifts as Jubilee loses Kwale by election

Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya (right) in consultation with Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok at Diani Reef Hotel, South Coast in Kwale County. [Photo by Maarufu Mohamed/Standard]

The balance of power in the county assembly has been upset following Jubilee Party’s loss in the Kinondoni ward by-election on Wednesday.

The win by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party whittles down Jubilee’s numbers in the assembly to five and boosts ODM’s to 11. This means Governor Salim Mvurya of Jubilee, with five elected MCAs, has a minority even if he manages to secure the support of Kanu, Wiper Democratic Movement, New Democrats and Chama Cha Mapinduzi parties, which have one MCA each in the 34-member House.

It also means that Jubilee, with four nominated MCAs, could lose one of the seats to ODM, which has 11 elected and 10 nominated MCAs.

Mr Mvurya campaigned vigorously for the Jubilee candidate for the by-election that was occasioned by the nullification of the August 8, 2017, poll results.

Candidates tied

In that election, the Jubilee and ODM candidates tied but the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared the Jubilee candidate the winner.

But a Kwale court nullified the election of Jubilee’s Juma Maone on December 19, after it was found that he tied with his rival Omar Pweza of ODM on 2,656 votes.

Mr Pweza won the by-election with 3,412 votes, while Mr Maone came second with 2,704.

Turnout

Kinondo ward has 11,014 registered voters, but only 6,164 or 56.47 per cent turned out to vote.

“We have shown everyone that this is an ODM stronghold. We have worked the entire week for this victory,” Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori said immediately the winner was declared.

The ODM Deputy Secretary General, Agnes Zani, said the party was still strong, steadfast and focused on the 2022 elections.

Kwale Woman Representative Zuleikha Juma said Kwale votes were in the ODM basket.