Matiang’i Allies Claim All Three MCA Seats in Stunning Blow to UDA
Nyamira County, Kenya|In a resounding show of opposition strength in the Gusii region, candidates aligned with former Interior Cabinet Secretary and Jubilee Party presidential hopeful Dr Fred Matiang’i have captured all three County Assembly wards up for grabs in Thursday’s keenly contested by-elections.
The results, declared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the early hours of Friday, delivered a clean sweep for the loose opposition coalition operating under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) banners – parties widely seen as proxies for Dr Matiang’i’s growing political machine in Kisii and Nyamira counties.
Ward-by-Ward Breakdown: Decisive Victories Across the Board
- Nyamaiya Ward
- Chris Osiemo (UPA) – 4,790 votes (Winner)
- Thomas Nyandieka (UDA) – 1,357 votes
- Margin: 3,433 votes
- Ekerenyo Ward
- Jeremiah Ongaro Njenga (UPA) – 3,507 votes (Winner)
- Francis Amenya (UDA) – 2,292 votes
- Margin: 1,215 votes
- Nyansiongo Ward
- Jackson Mogusu (PDP) – 2,759 votes (Winner)
- Kevin Maranga (UPA) – 2,686 votes
- Margin: 73 votes (tightest race of the day)
The victories represent a humiliating setback for President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which failed to secure a single seat despite heavy campaigning by senior party officials and the deployment of state resources in the run-up to the polls.
Why the Seats Were Contested
- Nyamaiya Ward became vacant following the tragic death of the incumbent MCA in a road traffic accident earlier this year.
- Ekerenyo Ward fell open after the previous MCA was elevated to Speaker of the Nyamira County Assembly, replacing Henry Okero who was impeached by MCAs.
- Nyansiongo Ward was ordered for a repeat poll by the courts after Jackson Mogusu successfully challenged the 2022 results on grounds of electoral malpractice.
Isolated Chaos, but Peaceful Exercise Overall
Despite pockets of chaos and allegations of voter intimidation levelled by some losing candidates, IEBC presiding officers and security agencies managed to conduct the exercise to its conclusion.
Voting materials arrived on time in all 78 polling stations across the three wards, and turnout was reported to be significantly higher than in the 2022 general election.
Victory Speech: “You Kept Your Promise”
Moments after receiving his certificate from the IEBC returning officer, Ekerenyo Ward MCA-elect Jeremiah Ongaro Njenga addressed jubilant supporters outside Ekerenyo Primary School polling station:
“I appreciate the confidence you had in me and kept your promise of saying you will ensure I lead you this time. I promise that I will do my part, ensuring that the people of Ekerenyo ward get development services they rightly deserve.”
Similar scenes of jubilation were witnessed in Nyamaiya and Nyansiongo wards as opposition supporters took to the streets chanting Matiang’i’s name and waving brooms – the now-familiar symbol of the emerging “clean-sweep” movement in the region.
Political Implications: A Warning Shot Ahead of 2027?
Political analysts say the results cement Dr Fred Matiang’i’s iron grip on Nyamira and neighbouring Kisii County, where he has methodically built a formidable grassroots structure since leaving government in 2022.
With the Gusii vote historically pivotal in Kenyan presidential races, Thursday’s outcome will send shockwaves through Kenya Kwanza headquarters and intensify speculation about Matiang’i’s widely anticipated 2027 presidential bid under a yet-to-be-unveiled broad opposition coalition.
For now, the people of Nyamira have spoken loudly: in the battle for the soul of the Gusii nation, the Matiang’i-aligned opposition is firmly in the ascendancy.
More to follow as reactions continue to stream in from State House, UDA headquarters, and opposition leaders across the country.
Share This Post
