Matungulu and Kibwezi gear up for October 17 by-election

The battle lines for the vacant Kibwezi West and Matungulu parliamentary seats were officially drawn last week after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared six candidates (three from each constituency) to fight it out in the October 17 by-elections.

The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) settled for former MP Kalembe Ndile, who is the leader of The Independent Party (Tip) -- one of the parties in the Cord Coalition -- to be its flagbearer in the Kibwezi West contest. The coalition also retained Mr Stephen Mule as its candidate for the Matungulu race.

Dr Patrick Musimba will seek another chance as an independent candidate for the Kibwezi West duel. A new entrant in Kibwezi politics, Ms Juliana Kisimbi of the Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya (Pick), was also cleared to take on Mr Ndile and Dr Musimba.

In Matungulu constituency, Mr Mule of the Wiper party will face off with former Kangundo MP Moffat Maitha, who will represent the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC). Mr Thomas Malinda Musau of the New Democrats Party concludes the list of candidates in the Matungulu race.

The three were cleared by the Matungulu Returning Officer, Mr Leonard Okemwa, after meeting all the requirements set by the IEBC.

The Cord alliance has indicated its desire to clinch the two seats according to the coalition’s pointman in the region, Mr Johnstone Muthama.

“I predict a tough campaign. My advice to our competitors is to prepare for a bruising battle. I also urge the electoral body to conduct itself appropriately in the handling of the two by-elections,” Mr Muthama said.

Matungulu constituency, which was born in 2012, is conducting its second parliamentery poll in six months.

The constituency has 47,838 registered voters with five electoral wards -- Tala, Matungulu North, Matungulu East, Matungulu West and Kyeleni ward.

Mr Ndile contested the March 4 General Election but controversially lost the seat to Independent Candidate Dr Patrick Musimba.

He challenged Dr Musimba’s victory in court and the result was nullified by High Court Judge David Majanja.

The decision to pick Mr Ndile means that the Wiper Democratic Movement will not field a candidate but instead back the Tip candidate.

Mr Mule lost his seat after a candidate in the March polls, Mr Tom Musau, of the Young Democrats Party successfully challenged his victory in court.

In their campaigns, Mr Ndile and Dr Musimba have been exuding confidence of winning.