- The UDA candidate on Wednesday, November 19, announced his withdrawal from the next by-election in Kisa Mashariki ward
- The candidate said the decision was reached following consultation with party leaders
- He also announced the candidate he will support for the by-election expected to be held on November 27
Kakamega: The race for the Kisa East County Member of Parliament (MCA) seat has taken a new turn following the withdrawal of the United Democratic Party (UDA) candidate.
Source: Facebook
Seat of MCA of Kisa Mashariki is one of the more than 20 vacant positions that will be filled during the next by-election scheduled for November 27.
With a few days left before the voters elect their new leader in the ward, the candidate of UDA James Shiraku has withdrawn from the race. He announced the decision on Wednesday, November 19.
Why did the UDA candidate withdraw from the Kisa Mashariki by-election?
According to Shiraku, the decision to withdraw from the contest was taken in consultation with the leadership of the UDA party.
He said he will now support the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) candidate Joel Ongoro.
“I was running, but I have accepted and I have decided to support my brother Ongoro after consulting with the leaders of my party,” Shiraku said.
He made the announcement during a public event attended by Khwisero Member of Parliament Christopher Aseka.
Source: Facebook
The Member of Parliament, who brokered the agreement, welcomed the decision, noting that he believes the MDG candidate is the right person to lead Kisa Mashariki ward.
“I will not leave my brother if I win. I will work with him to ensure that everyone gets a better health system and other basics,” Ongoro said.
The withdrawal of the UDA candidate from the race is likely to shake up the campaign in the remaining days.
Who are the candidates for the Kisa Mashariki by-election?
Ongoro will now face several other candidates, among them Abraham Ayaya of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), Aduda Okwiri (Democracy Party for the People – DCP), and Stephen Amwai of the UDM.
Source: Facebook
His endorsement by the UDA candidate is likely to increase his ambition with DAP-K and DCP, both part of the United Opposition, fighting over who should nominate the candidate.
While DAP-K has been pressuring the DCP candidate to withdraw from the race, the former senator from Kakamega, who is the deputy leader of the DCP party, Cleophas Malala, insists that his candidate should be supported as a sign of goodwill after withdrawing from the race for the Malava parliamentary seat in favor of Seth Panyako.
The Kisa Mashariki by-election follows the death of the local MCA, Stephen Maloba. Maloba died after being stabbed at a political meeting following clashes between two parties in 2023.
Who rejected the ODM ticket?
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) suffered a blow after its candidate in the Kisa Mashariki by-election rejected their ticket.
The candidate, Abraham Ayaya, wrote to the party saying he has chosen to run for the seat on the DAP-K ticket.
Ayaya said he had never been a member of ODM and that the party planned to tarnish his name.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
