The East African Standard (Nairobi)

Kenya: Mwau, Ngilu Upstage Kalonzo At His Game

Nairobi — Two MPs-elect from Eastern Province dealt a blow to Mr Kalonzo Musyoka's plan to bag all Ukambani seats for ODM-Kenya.

Mr John Harun Mwau, a 1997 presidential candidate on the Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya, trounced former Kilome MP, Mr Mutinda Mutiso, a key plunk of Kalonzo's presidential ambition.

Kalonzo was also hurt in Kitui Central where he had sworn to 'teach' Ngilu, a former Health minister, a "lasting lesson", when she declared support for Raila Odinga's bid on ODM ticket.

The ODM-Kenya presidential candidate had also promised to 'shock' voters when the count is over.

The 'shock', now lies in the party losing two seats to Mwau, who contested on a Pick ticket and Ngilu on Narc.

Mwau, a former director of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority, also contested the Kilome seat in 2002, and Westlands, Nairobi, in 1997.

Mwau, a prominent businessman, garnered 16,788 votes against Mutinda's 7,914. The loser was a deputy chief whip in the Ninth Parliament. Ngilu got 21,619 against ODM-Kenya Mwendawa Munyasia;s 11,650.

In Ukambani debutants also fell Cabinet ministers and former MPs.

Major upsets were witnessed in Mwala, Makueni, Kibwezi, Mbooni, Kangundo, Kathiani and Machakos Town constituencies.

Most of the casualties were MPs running on the PNU ticket.

Water minister Mutua Katuku lost to Daniel Muoki of ODM-Kenya, by over 13,000 votes.

In Kibwezi constituency, maverick politician and Assistant Wildlife minister Kalembe Ndile lost to Prof Philip Kaloki of ODM-Kenya. Kaloki led with 30,314 votes against Kalembe's 5,518.

Livestock and Fisheries minister Mr Joseph Munyao was bid goodbye to his seat to ODM-Kenya's secretary General Mr Mutula Kilonzo. .

Lands Minister Prof Kivutha Kibwana was also walking on a land mine in Makueni constituency and was trailing ODM-Kenya's Mr Peter Kiilu a retired long serving PC. Kiilu was leading with 8,700 votes against Kivutha's 3,500 from over 80 polling stations, with results from over 140 polling stations yet to be released.

Pentagon member, Ngilu, won in Kitui Central, defying the ODM-Kenya wave.

Ngilu, who threw her weight behind ODM presidential candidate, will be extending her grip on the seat for 20 years.

Her victory will be sweet music to her supporters and a bitter pill for Kalonzo who had vowed to "teach her a lesson".

New faces into parliament include Victor Munyaka, a veterinary doctor and businessman in Machakos Town. He trounced outgoing MP, Mr Daudi Mwanzia.

Munyaka was leading with 6,800 against Mwanzia's 2,450 votes in 67 of 116 polling stations in Machakos Town constituency.

Ms Wavinya Ndeti was leading in Kathiani constituency. Ndeti was expected to trounce her opponents who include outgoing MP Mr Kyalo Kaindi.

Tagged: East Africa, Kenya

Copyright © 2007 The East African Standard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments Post a comment