Alphonse Mukwaiyu Musyimi of the Wiper party has been declared the winner of Kyome Thaana Ward by-election held in Kitui county on Thursday, December 8.

Announcing the results slightly past midnight, Mwingi West Returning Officer John Mwawasi declared Mukwaiyu the winner after he garnered 2,365 votes, beating his main rival Mwende David, who finished second with 1,495 votes.

Mwende David served as the first Kyome Thaana MCA between 2013 and 2017.

“Alphonse Mukwaiyu Musyimi has been duly elected as the member of the county assembly for Kyome/Thaana ward in Kitui county in the byelections held on 8/12/2022,” the RO announced.

Immediate former Kyome Thaana MCA Alex Wambua did not participate in the contest.

Wambua dropped his bid for the Ward seat in the August election and vied for Mwingi West parliamentary seat under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party. He lost to Charles Nguna, who secured a second term in office.

The total number of registered voters in the Mwingi west ward are 14,979. A total of 11 candidates contested for the seat.

Speaking after his win, Mukyaiyu thanked the electorate for electing him and pledged to serve locals equally including those who did not vote for him.

“I will work with Governor Julius Malombe’s administration to ensure locals get development,’ he said.

He added that he will always indulge locals in public participation forums for them to table developmental plans for the ward.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) postponed the election for the ward seat in August following the death of Tujibebe party candidate Stanley Muthengi.

Meanwhile, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party lost to independent candidate Brian Ochieng Obiero in the just concluded South Gem ward by-election in Siaya County.

Obiero garnered 3,469 while his closest competitor Polycarp Wanga of ODM managed 3,353 votes.

Obiero was declared the winner by IEBC’s Returning Officer for South Gem by-election Ezekiel Juma.

Kenneth Omolo of Jubilee Party came a distant third with 321 votes followed by MDG party’s Bernard Ondego who got 67 votes, independent candidate David Nyang’un managed 44 votes and LDP’s John Adino got 35 votes.

Others included independent candidate Christopher Ouma who got 21 votes, UDM party’s David Audi got 20 votes and CPK party’s Enock Okinyi Okech came last with 11 votes.

IEBC suspended the election for the MCA seat following the death of ODM candidate Nick Wanga in July this year.