ODM’s Aladwa elected Nairobi Mayor

Posted by SIMON NDONGA on August 11, 2011

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Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 11 – George Aladwa of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has been elected the Mayor of Nairobi.

Mr Aladwa, who has been acting mayor, got 57 votes to beat James Gakuya of the Party of National Unity (PNU) who got 39 votes.

The peaceful polls were conducted by secret ballot.  ODM has 53 councillors while PNU has 45.

Earlier, officials sealed off City Hall Way and police in riot gear were stationed near the Kenyatta International Conference Centre given past experiences with such polls but no incidents were reported by the time the polls closed.

This marks the last time that the City Mayor will be elected by councillors as city residents will from next year directly pick their Mayor in line with the new Constitution.

Mr Aladwa became acting mayor after Geoffrey Majiwa stepped aside following corruption allegations that have landed him in court over the purchase of cemetery land in Athi River.