ODM’s candidate, Elijah Memusi, won the Kajiado Central by-election yesterday, narrowly beating JAP’s candidate Patrick Tutui who came in second.

Memusi garnered 16,008 votes while Tutui followed closely with 15,508 votes, in the tightly contested poll. Independent candidate, Mr Kuntai Nkashuma, was a distant third with 100 votes. The by-election attracted a voter turn-out of 80 per cent.

Tension had been high at the constituency tallying centre following a delay by the electoral commission, which saw the final results released at about 10.38pm.

The Kajiado parliamentary seat fell vacant in December last year following the appointment of the former MP, Mr Joseph Nkaissery, as the Cabinet Secretary for the Interior and Co-ordination.

Nkaissery was an ODM Member of Parliament and retaining the seat was crucial for CORD, whose members are minimal in parliament compared to their Jubilee counterparts.

WAITITU UNFIT TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE

There has been mixed reactions from Kenyans following the nomination of former Embakasi MP, Ferdinand Waititu, as the Jubilee Alliance Party flag bearer in the upcoming Kabete constituency parliamentary contest. Baba Yao, as Waititu is popularly known was apparently President Uhuru Kenyatta’s preferred candidate. He was issued with a JAP ticket to contest the Kabete parliamentary seat on May 5 after sailing through the party’s nominations on Saturday.

With some Kenyans happy with his nomination, others have raised concerns over the matter considering a high court ruling that was made last year, which declared Waititu, unfit to hold public office.

Justice Mumbi Ngugi declared Ferdinand Waititu unfit to hold public office and nullified his appointment as chairman of Athi Water Services Board following a petition questioning his integrity.

The petition had been lodged by businessman Benson Riitho who moved to court to challenge the appointment arguing that Waititu’s character was questionable.