Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala was among the seven candidates seeking to succeed outgoing Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya in the mini-elections held on Monday, August 29.
However, the Amani National Congress (ANC) politician was floored by former Ketraco CEO Fernandes Barasa of the ODM party who garnered 192,929 votes to be declared the governor-elect.
Malala was the first run-up after polling 159,508 votes in a contest that attracted seven aspirants including seasoned politician Cyrus Jirongo.
Being his first political loss since he joined politics, Malala shared the experience with respect to losing in a political seat.
Addressing journalists shortly after the official announcement of the Kakamega gubernatorial results, Malala termed his political loss to Fernandes Barasa as “painful.”
He said if that is what the former Prime Minister has withstood in the four unsuccessful attempts he has been making at the presidency, then he must be the strongest person.
“We lost with about 29,000 votes. It is painful and if this kind of pain is what Raila Odinga has been going through all the times he’s lost elections, and then he is a strong man,” Malala said.
Malala, who was accompanied by his running mate Beatrice Inyangala, his wife as well supporters described the victory of Fernandes Barasa as deserved and undisputed, as he conceded defeat.
“I congratulate the governor-elect, Fernandes Barasa, and his team for their win. It is deserved and undisputable,
“I am ready to offer any part of my manifesto that they may find suitable in their new government for the progress of Kakamega. We live to fight another day,” Malala stated.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson Wafula Chebukati suspended the Kakamega and Mombasa governor elections due to a mix-up in the ballot papers.
