Why Jubilee lost to CORD in battle for Taita Taveta

By Renson Mnyamwezi

Jubilee Alliance candidates failed to survive the CORD onslaught inTaita-Taveta County, with only Gender Minister Naomi Shabanrecapturing her Taveta parliamentary seat.

At the same time, Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyattaperformed dismally in the county despite Dr Shaban’s spirited efforts to market his bid.

“If you do not vote for Uhuru, you will be left out of the next government,” Dr Shaban, Jubilee’s leading light in the region, had said during her campaigns.

Even after Public Health Minister Beth Mugo claimed that the Kenyatta family had donated parcels of land to settle squatters, this still could not persuade residents to vote for her cousin.

Residents and leaders interviewed claimed Uhuru and his candidates performed dismally because of the controversial land issue.

Resentment

During the final presidential debate, Uhuru disclosed that the family owns 30,000 acres of land, a declaration that generated resentment and tension in the region.

“Any candidate associated with Jubilee lost the election because his family is one of the major land owners while residents are squatting,” said Taveta Council of Elders spokesman Nahashon Mkunde.

Jubilee supporters blamed Shaban for the coalition’s poor showing in the region, claiming the minister concentrated on national politics as her rivals aggressively campaigned for CORDcandidates.

Shaban said TNA won two civic seats in Taveta constituency and two others in Voi and Wundanyi constituencies. Former Taita-Taveta County Council chairman Benson Mwawughanga said Raila’s wave was still strong.

“The local community has one policy. Once they accept your ideologies, they will never waver. They will go with you to the end,” said Mwawughanga.

CORD stamped its authority in the region after clinching most of the seats, with the lion’s share of the positions going to ODM.

Tourism Assistant Minister Dan Mwazo won the County Senate seat with a landslide with 55,442 votes against SDP candidate Mwandawiro Mghanga’s 21,188 votes.

Challenge result

Tole Mwakidedi of TNA was third with 9,224 votes while Wiper Democratic candidate Mwakazi Mtongolo came fourth with 5,363 votes.

For the governor position, immediate former Kenya Oil Refineries CEO John Mtuta Mrutu of ODM beat former CBK Deputy Governor Jacinta Mwatela of Wiper Democratic Party to win the seat.

ODM’s Mrutu was declared the winner with 34,290 votes while Mwatela got 32,890 votes. Mwatela, wife to outgoing Mwatate MP and Education Assistant Minister Calist Mwatela, has vowed to challenge the results in court, claiming she was rigged out.

Former Kakamega DC Wisdom Kazungu Mwamburi was third with 7,714 voted while Ambassador Mwanyengela Ngali had 6,774 votes followed by Elijah Mwandoe (SDP) with 5,234 votes. Sophy Kibai of Ford Kenya got 3,551 votes.

The battle for Women Representative post saw Joyce Wanjala Lay of ODM garner 64,145 votes, followed by Wiper’s Pricilla Mwadime Mwangeka with 10,145 votes. Third place went to Ann Nyambu of URP, who got 9,693 votes.

Andrew Mwadime of ODM was declared MP-elect for Mwatate constituency after garnering 8,006 votes in a tight race.

In Taveta constituency, Shaban won with 6,360 votes against former Taveta MP Basil Criticos’ 6,251 in a hotly contested election. Criticos, however, said he would go to court to have the votes recounted.

CORD presidential candidate Raila garnered 75,329 votes with Jubilee’s Uhuru getting  12,177. Musalia Mudavadi of Amani Alliance was third with 1,030 votes followed by Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua with 797 votes. RBK’s James Kiyiapi got 740 votes, Eagle Alliance’s Peter Kenneth 700 votes, Mohammed Dida 359 and Safina party’s Paul Muite 203 votes.

Mwazo, Raila’s point man in the region, said they won several seats due to aggressive campaigns.