Five senators set to win governor’s seat gamble

Aspirants for Meru Governor, from left Peter Munya (current Governor) and Senator Kiraitu Murungi shake hands at Consolata Primary School August 20 2016. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL |

Five senators are on course to win governor’s seats while six others are seemingly headed for a loss, according to provisional results from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Barring major shifts in provisional results, Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi (Jubilee) will be the county’s next Governor. With 96 per cent of the votes counted, the senator has 271, 140 votes (53 per cent) of the votes counted compared to incumbent Governor Peter Munya’s 221, 591 (43 per cent), which gives him a 10 per cent margin of the valid votes cast and counted.

With 91 per cent of votes counted in West Pokot County, Senator John Lonyangapuo (KANU) is set to trounce incumbent governor Simon Kachapin Kitalei (Jubilee) who had defected from KANU and leads with a margin of 15 per cent of the valid votes cast.

According to the provisional results the senator has 80,120 votes (58 per cent) compared to Kitalei’s 58,042 (42 per cent)

Nandi Senator Stephen Sang (Jubilee) is set to become the next governor of Nandi County based on 96 per cent of the valid votes counted in the county. The incumbent, Cleophas Lagat Kiprop, opted out of the race and pledged to support Mr Sang after losing in the party nominations. Mr Sang currently leads with 237,066 votes (91 per cent). His nearest challenger has 12,810 votes or 4.93 per cent.

With 94 per cent of the votes counted in Nairobi County, Senator Mike Sonko Mbuvi Kioko (Jubilee) is projected to be capital city’s second Governor, having garnered 822,322 votes (54 percent) of the valid votes. The incumbent, Evans Kidero (ODM) is second with 659,060 votes (43 per cent).

West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo (KANU) is set to trounce incumbent governor Simon Kachapin Kitalei (Jubilee) who had defected from KANU by a margin of 15 per cent of the valid votes cast and counted.

With 94 per cent of the votes tallied Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o (ODM) is leading the county’s gubernatorial reace with 260,495 votes (63 per cent), followed by incumbent Governor Jackton Ranguma at 146,580 votes (36 per cent).

LOSING

Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar (WIPER) is trailing in third place with 42,703 votes (three per cent) in the Mombasa Gubernatorial race with 98 per cent of the votes counted. Incumbent Governor Hassan Ali Joho (ODM) is leading with 217,011 votes (65 per cent) followed by Suleiman Said Shahbal (Jubilee) at 68,365 votes (20 per cent).

With 97 per cent of votes counted, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale (FORD-Kenya) is running second to incumbent Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanyah. Mr Khalwale, has 132,788 (25 per cent), while Mr Oparanya has 380,649 votes (71 per cent).

With 89 per cent of the votes tallied, Kisii County Senator Christopher Obure (Jubilee), who had defected from ODM is 108,827 votes (28 per cent) behind incumbent Governor James Ongwae (ODM) who leads with 201,213 votes (51 per cent).

Turkana Senator John Munyes (Jubilee), who had defected from FORD Kenya is running second in Turkana with 51,413 votes (42 per cent) and 94 per cent of the votes counted. Incumbent Governor Josphat Nanok (ODM) is leading with 71,566 votes (61 per cent).

With 97 per cent of the votes counted, Nakuru Senator James Mungai, running as an independent candidate, is coming fourth in Nakuru County gubernatorial race with 9,147 votes (one per cent). Former National Transport Safety Authority (NTSA) Chairman Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui (Jubilee) is leading with 610,643 votes (85 per cent).

Kitui Senator David Musila running as an independent candidate in Kitui is running second with 109, 690 votes. With 96 per cent of the votes in, former Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Kaluki Ngilu, running on a National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) ticket is projected to win, having 163, 267 votes (47 per cent).

CLOSE RACE

With 99.86 per cent of votes in Embu County already tallied, Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti (Maendeleo Chap Chap), is currently second with 96,597votes (39 per cent), with the incumbent, Martin Wambora (Jubilee), leads narrowly with 97,544 votes (40 per cent).