Former Prime Minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga has been humiliated in Ugenya and Embakasi South constituencies’ by –elections.
ODM’s candidates in the by- elections emerged second.
In Embakasi South , former MP Irshad Sumra conceded defeat early on Friday night and congratulated Wipers Musili Mawathe for carrying out a well “organized and strategic campaign”.
Sumra had petitioned Mawathe’s win which was latter nullified by the court.
By midnight the results from 90 polling stations out of 221 showed Mawathe leading with 7,905 votes against Sumra’s 3,387.
Sumra said he is a mature political leader and that he was conceding defeat because even if tallying went on till morning, he had already lost.
“ I will like to congratulate my brother Hon Julius Musil Mawathe, he has won , this is fair and square, Mawathe planned well, my finishing was bad , (elections ni kujipanga), since my finishing was bad, I don’t blame anybody , Mawathe actually did a very good campaign,” Sumra said.
He also congratulated Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for the win.
“I will work with him, whenever he needs me I will be there,” Sumra said.
Mawathe was supported by among others Jubilee leaders in Nairobi led by Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
It’s believed that the Jubilee leaders rallied their supporters to vote for Mawathe despite ODM and Jubilee supporters once appearing together and they were said to be supporting Sumra.
DP William Ruto is also believed to have supported Mawathe.
ODM insisted on fielding its own candidate despites calls that the CORD coalition fields only one candidate.
The Jubilee party did not field a candidate in the Embakasi by –election citing the handshake.
Ugenya’s Karan lost his seat after the court nullified his election over electoral malpractices.
The petition had been filed by MDG’s David Ochieng.
Ochieng is a former MP for Ugenya.
At 2am on Saturday, Chris Karan was trailing MDG’s David Ochieng when the final tally was announced.
The official results stood at , David Ochieng(MDG) 18730, Christopher Karan(ODM) 14,507, Daniel Juma(GDDP) 78, Brian Omondi (Third Way Alliance) 27.
All the 112 polling stations had submitted their results and the people of Ugenya “embarrassed Raila Odinga”.
Most people had hoped that ODM will carry the day in the two by-elections because of the handshake but the party’s hopes crashed.
The humiliating defeat means the party has to go back to the drawing board and restructure its approach to National politics.