President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party has won the Muguga ward by-elections held on July 15, the first by-election the ruling party is winning in a long time having previously lost to either ODM or United Democratic Alliance UDA.
Joseph Githinji of Jubilee was declared the Muguga ward winner by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) after gaining 4,089 votes.
His main opponent, Peter Kamau of the United Democratic Alliance party followed closely with 4,062 votes.
However, the UDA camp has protested the Muguga ward by-elections claiming that Jubilee rigged.
The Muguga ward and Kiambaa constituency polls have been described as a do-or-die affair for Jubilee and UDA party.
According to political experts, these mini-polls are a determinant of the direction that the Mt Kenya region will take in the 2022 General Election.
For this, William Ruto, who associates himself with UDA formed a strong team to deliver both the Kiambaa and Muguga ward victory to UDA.
Ruto’s team comprised of MPs Rigathi Gachagua (Mathira), Kimani Ichung’wah (Kikuyu), Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), Alice Wahome (Kandara).
The team also had senators Irungu Kang’ata (Murang’a), Millicent Omanga (nominated), and former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru.
On the other hand, Jubilee had James Nyoro (Kiambu governor) Sabina Chege (Muranga county MP) Ngujiri Wambugu(Nyeri town MP), and Cate Warugru (Laikipia county MP) as some of its strong people on the ground.
UDA party has taken President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee by the horns, in an effort to prove them wrong after they were kicked out of the party.
“We are using the mini poll as our rehearsal ahead of the complete takeover of the region in the run-up to 2022,
“We are not competing against the President, we are competing against those in his advisory team who have thrived on lying to him and leading him into a succession conflict with his own people,” Muranga Irung’u Kang’ata said.
Muguga ward seat was left vacant in March 2021 after Eliud Ngugi died of COVID-19 complications.
The legislator died while receiving treatment at the Kenyatta University hospital in Kiambu County.
