Mutua party trounces Wiper in Kitui by-election
By Charles Muasya, October 19, 2019
Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate for Mutonguni ward by-election on Thursday clinched the seat trouncing dominant Wiper party’s contestant.
The victory handed Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua a major triumph against Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, whose political authority in the region is increasingly being questioned.
Musee Mati garnered 2,815 votes beating Stephen Kithuka (Wiper), who got 2,173 votes.
The Kitui county exercise was characterised by a low turnout attributed to heavy rains that have pounded the region for the last three days.
Wiper’s defeat came despite Kalonzo having deferred a scheduled trip to Mozambique last weekend to campaign for the party candidate. He was accompanied by Zipapa Chirau Mwakwere and seven Wiper MPs.
In 2017, Mati won the seat by 3,322 votes but IEBC erred by declaring the runner-up candidate as the winner, prompting the court to nullify the election.