ODM's Aladwa elected Nairobi Mayor

Nairobi councillors have voted in their mayor in largely peaceful elections.

Makongeni/Kaloleni ward councillor George Aladwa (ODM) emerged the winner after amassing 57 votes against his sole challenger James Gakuya (Muthurwa, PNU), who managed 39 votes. He was the acting mayor.

Mr Aladwa will serve as the last mayor under the old constitution. Under the new law, mayors will be elected directly by Kenyan voters.

The polls, conducted at City Hall, Nairobi, were presided over by former mayor Odhiambo Majiwa.

ODM supporters broke into song and dance after Mr Majiwa declared their candidate the newly elected mayor.

Earlier, the voting process was largely peaceful with indisposed councillors getting the nod to vote first. Respective party agents called for a free and fair poll in which a transparent ballot box was used.

ODM boasts of 53 councillors while rival party PNU has 46.

Kariobangi South councillor William Kinyanyi (ODM) captured the deputy mayor seat after his challenger Simba Arati stepped down in his favour.

Mr Aladwa took over from Mr Majiwa, who left office in October 2010 to fight corruption charges. He was charged with the irregular purchase of cemetery land in Mavoko.

He was charged that on diverse dates between December and April last year he conspired, with others before court, to commit an offence of corruption by acquiring Sh283.2 million from the Ministry of Local Government purporting it to be the purchase price payable by the City Council for cemetery land at Mavoko Municipality, Machakos District.