ODM wins three ward by-elections, as Jubilee clinches maiden seat

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) won three of four ward by-elections held on Wednesday with recently launched Jubilee Party winning the first seat in Sala Ward mini-poll in Tana River County.

ODM registered victories at the Kolokol Ward by-election in Turkana County where its candidate, Josephat Emuria, garnered 1,715 votes against Nangiro Long’e of Jubilee who got 1,336 votes.

Peter Loteng’an, who ran as an independent candidate, was third with 101 votes while Ford Kenya’s Michael Ebenyo was fourth with 74 votes.

In Mosiro (Kajiado County), ODM’s candidate Peter Kuseyo was declared winner after getting 1,079 votes against Koilekan Koroin of Jubilee who got 1,046.

Naftal Nyaberi Onkoba, also of ODM, clinched the Nyacheki MCA seat with got 2,216 votes, beating  Maxwell Magoma of Jubilee (1,173), Calleb Onguti of KNC (979) and Peter Bosire of NVP (695).

Jubilee’s only victory came in Sala where Fauzia Sadik emerged winner with 1,184 votes against Ibrahim Ware of Safina who got 210 votes. Kiranso Mchiru (Wiper) was third with 200 votes while ODM’s Mohamed Dabaso was fourth with a paltry 96 votes.

The mini-polls have been seen by political pundits as a test of might for ODM, and by extension CORD, and Jubilee in the run-up to the 2017 General Election with both sides of the divide claiming to be better placed to win the elections.