ODM's Fernandes Barasa wins Kakamega governor race

ODM’s Fernandes Odinga Barasa has clinched the Kakamega governor seat after garnering 192,929 votes in the closely fought contest that pitted him against Cleophas Malala (ANC) who got 159, 508 votes.

The victory by Mr Barasa comes as a blow to the Kenya Kwanza camp led by President elect William Ruto and ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi which put up a spirited fight to try and wrestle the seat from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition.

The election was marked by low turnout on Monday and the win by Mr Baarasa has boosted the support enjoyed by the Azimio camp and its flag bearer Raila Odinga in western region.

There were seven candidates contesting the governor seat. They included former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo (UDP) who got 5,974 votes, Mr Suleiman Sumba (Kanu) 178 votes, Samuel Omukoko (MDP) 761 votes, lawyer Michael Osundwa (Independent) garnered 1,146 votes and Austin Opitso Otieno (Independent) got 761 votes.

Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa, outgoing Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Nairobi County senator elect Edwin Sifuna, Kisii governor Simba Arati and several MPs from the Azimio camp were present at the County tallying centre at Kakamega School.

Mr Barasa and his running Ayub Savula promised to serve all the residents of Kakamega without discrimination, irrespective of whether they had supported them or not.

“The election was not an easy walk for us especially after the polls were suspended by IEBC on the August 9 because of the errors which were detected on the ballot papers. We campaigned aggressively and the people of Kakamega have shown their confidence in our leadership by bestowing on us the responsibility to take the county to the next level,” said Mr Barasa.

In the campaigns, Mr Mudavadi had asked voters in Kakamega to elect the youthful former senator Malala saying it would the best gift the region would give to Dr Ruto who was declared the winner of the August 9 president election by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Mr Mudavadi who was on a campaign trail three days to the governor elections in Kakamega told voters in the region to punish Mr Odinga by rejecting Mr Barasa.

“Mr Odinga has for the last three decades consigned communities in Nyanza and western in the opposition. The time has come for voters in Kakamega to teach him a lesson by sending him packing to his rural home in Bondo,” said Mr Mudavadi while on the campaign trail in Khwisero constituency.

As the final results were being announced Mr Malala had convened a press conference accompanied by his supporters at the Golf hotel.