Yusuf triumphs as PNU retains city seat

What you need to know:

How aspirants fared in race:

  • Yusuf Hassan 19,030
  • Ahmed Ibrahim 15,476
  • Brian Weke 4,064
  • David Waihiga 367
  • Geoffrey Mutuku 317
  • Muthoni Kihara 248
  • Daniel Omao 205
  • James Matagaro 36

PNU on Thursday evening retained the Kamukunji seat after its candidate Yusuf Hassan garnered 19,030 votes to win the by-election.

ODM’s Ibrahim Ahmed came second with 15,476 votes in an election which saw a low turn-out and a clash of party agents.

Some 42 voters were arrested and locked up at Pangani Police Station — 38 for double registration and five for shouting party slogans outside polling stations.

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Mr Brian Weke of Narc Kenya was third with 4,064 votes. Agano Party’s David Waihiga garnered 367 votes, while Mr Geoffrey Muthini of TIP got 317 votes. Ms Muthoni Kihara of GNU took 248 votes against Ford People’s Daniel Omao who had 205 votes.

Kenya Social Congress’s James Matagaro was last with only 36 votes.

ODM conceded defeat, with Housing assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru describing the elections as free and fair. “I went from station to station and these elections were free and fair,” she said. (Read: A clean poll today will herald a peaceful 2012)

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka saluted Mr Hassan’s win, saying that it was a signal that a united PNU alliance would be a force in next year’s General Election.

“I congratulate Hassan for emerging victorious. It was a result of unity of purpose in PNU alliance which shows better things are coming,” he said.

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated the people of Kamukunji for electing a “development-conscious, visionary and humble leader” as their next MP and “heeding our calls for unity in these elections.”

The Interim Independent Electoral Commission chairman Issack Hassan said that the by-election was conducted well, but was concerned by the high number of double registrations.

“It is a criminal offence to be in possession of more than one voter’s card,” said Mr Hassan.

The voter turn-out in Kamukunji was 30.79 per cent which Mr Hassan said was the lowest in the history of the commission.

There are 128,562 registered voters in the constituency.

Reported by John Ngirachu, Casper Waithaka and Oliver Mathenge

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