Leaders allied to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) have pitched tent in Elgeyo Marakwet, Kandara
and Garissa Township constituencies to drum up support for their candidates ahead of tomorrow’s byelections.

The leaders trooped to the regions from last week and were engaged in last-minute door-to-door
campaigns in their bid to recapture the seats that had been initially bagged by UDA in last year’s August
9 General Election.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), in a gazette notice dated October 8, announced that the campaign period for the by-elections would commence on December 5 and end
on January 2.

IEBC also set January 5 as the date for the by-election for Shella Ward in Lamu.

“The by-elections for members of National Assembly for Kandara and Garissa township constituencies, member of Senate, Elgeyo Marakwet County and MemBy-elections have been occasioned by the appointment of former seat holders to Cabinet ber for Shella Ward, Lamu County Assembly scheduled to be held on Thursday, 5 January, 2023,” read the gazette notice.

By –election in the three areas was triggered by the resignation of three lawmakers who were appointed into the Cabinet.

The three, Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Alice Wahome (Kandara) and Kipchumba Murkomen
(Elgeyo Marakwet) resigned as MPs after they were approved and sworn in as CS’s for Defence, Water, Sanitation and Irrigation and Transport and Public Works respectively.

Eight contestants

In Kandara, Murang’a UDA leaders pitched camp in the constituency to drum up support for their
candidate Chege Njuguna, who will battle it out with eight other contestants.

The eight include Samuel Kioi (The New Democrats), Joseph Mburu (Justice and Freedom Party),
Pius Muturi (Independent), Kamweti Njuguna (Independent), Erust Nyoike (Independent), Kiburi PMG
Junior (Usawa Kwa Wote) and Titus Njau (Ford Asili).

Speaking during the campaigns, Njuguna promised to champion attainment of more development projects as well as ensure those started by Wahome are completed.

On their part, Murang’a leaders, led by Governor Irungu Kang’ata and Women Rep Betty Maina, urged
residents to vote for their candidate as the seat belongs to UDA. They emphasised that voting
in a UDA candidate would be the only way of thanking the Kenya Kwanza government for appointing
two members of the cabinet from Murang’a County.

Kang’ata praised Njuguna, saying he was a vibrant leader and with a huge potential to continue with the
various development programmes initiated by Wahome, who prior to her appointment had served for two consecutive terms as MP.

“We have a suitable candidate and we appeal to the people of Kandara to elect him as their next
Member of Parliament,” Kang’ata said during a campaign trail in the constituency.

Maragua MP Mary Waithira exuded confidence that UDA would carry the day, pointing out that they
had done intense ground work for Njuguna.

In Elgeyo Marakwet, last-minute campaigns intensified across the region, with President William Ruto
led-UDA facing stiff competition from candidates who lost in the party primaries.

Former Marakwet West MP William Kisang will be UDA flag bearer after he beat other 20 aspirants to
secure the ticket in the closely contested party primaries held two weeks ago.

IEBC has cleared five candidates for the seat. Kisang will, however, face-off with entrepreneur and motivational speaker Tim Kipchumba and human rights activist Jerotich Seii, who lost to him during the UDA primaries.

The duo has complained that the UDA primaries were not free and fair. IEBC has cleared Kipchumba
to vie on the Party for Peace and Democracy ticket while Seii will vie on Safina Party.

Also, in the race is lawyer Andrew Mengich and Kelvin Kemboi as others who will vie as independent candidates. Murkomen yesterday led highpowered campaigns for the UDA candidate across the county