Wilfred Muchire
19 January 2008
Nairobi — President Kibaki's Party of National Unity dominated the civic seats in the December 27 General Election in Mt Kenya region.
But little-known parties pulled surprises by having their candidates elected in various wards, including in the President's Othaya constituency where two seats went to other parties.
The 25 local authorities that encircle the mountain produced councillors from more than 12 political parties, a shift from the tradition where civic leaders were predominately from the most popular presidential candidate's party.
Other parties that will have representatives in the councils include Safina, Orange Democratic Party (ODM), Orange Democratic Party of Kenya (ODM-K), Agano, Chama Cha Mwananchi, Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), Narc Kenya, United Democratic Party (UDM), Ford People and The Independent Party (TIP).
Chair committees
Being the dominant party in the region, the PNU councillors are expected to dictate who is elected as the chairman or mayor in the local authorities. The councillors will also determine who is to chair various committees.
In President Kibaki's home district, PNU bagged 41 out of 61 seat in the four local authorities.
Although Safina secured two parliamentary seats out of the six in the district, only three of its civic candidates sailed through.
Elections for Muhito Ward in Mukurwe-ini constituency were not held following the mix-up of candidates' names and party symbols on the ballot papers.
Only a handful of the region's immediate former councillors retained their seats, with the electorate going for young candidates.
In Othaya, only two out of 10 civic leaders recaptured their seats.
Othaya Town Council with five wards saw PNU candidates take all the seats but there were changes in the other five wards whose civic leaders report to Nyeri County Council.
ODM bagged all seven seats in Mukogondo in Laikipia East constituency. The area is the home of former Speaker Francis ole Kaparo.
However, PNU secured all six seats in Nanyuki Municipal Council and most of the others for Laikipia County Council.
In Isiolo District, the parties that had the three front-runners for the presidential seat, PNU, ODM and ODM-K, shared the 24 seats. PNU had 18, ODM five and ODM-K one.
In the larger Meru District with seven local authorities, PNU secured most of the seats, with Safina, Mazingira and DP getting the rest.
Same verdict
The same scenario was witnessed in Embu and Mbeere districts, with Ford People getting one seat in Embu Municipal Council.
In Kirinyaga District, Kalembe Ndile's TIP secured Ngariama Ward in Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Martha Karua's Gichugu constituency.
In Murang'a North and South districts, the electorate passed the same verdict by mostly electing PNU civic candidates.
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