- A UDA candidate on Wednesday, November 19, announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Kisa East ward by-election
- The candidate said the decision was reached following consultation with the party leaders
- He also announced a candidate he will be supporting for the by-election set to be held on November 27
Kakamega: The race for the next Kisa East Member of County Assembly (MCA) seat has taken a new twist following the withdrawal of a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.
Source: Facebook
The Kisa East MCA seat is one of the over 20 vacant positions that will be filled during the upcoming by-elections slated for November 27.
With just days to go before voters elect their new leader in the ward, the UDA candidate James Shiraku has withdrawn from the race. He announced the decision on Wednesday, November 19.
Why did UDA candidate withdraw from Kisa East by-election?
According to Shiraku, the decision to drop out of the race was taken in consultation with the UDA party leadership.
He said he will now support the Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) party candidate Joel Ongoro.
“I was vying, but I have agreed and decided to support my brother Ongoro after having consultations with my party leaders,” Shiraku said.
He made the announcement during a public event graced by Khwisero Member of Parliament Christopher Aseka.
Source: Facebook
The MP, who brokered the deal, welcomed the decision, noting that he believes the MDG candidate is the right person to lead Kisa East ward.
“I will not leave my brother if I win. I will work with him to make sure everyone has access to a better health system and other basics,” Ongoro said.
The UDA candidate’s withdrawal from the race is likely to shake up the campaigns in the remaining few days.
Who are the Kisa East by-election candidates?
Ongoro will now face off with several other candidates, among them Abraham Ayaya of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), Aduda Okwiri (Democracy for Citizens Party – DCP), and UDM’s Stephen Amwai.
Source: Facebook
His endorsement by the UDA candidate is likely to boost his bid with DAP-K and DCP, both part of the United Opposition, fighting over who should field the candidate.
While DAP-K has been pushing for the DCP candidate to withdraw from the race, former Kakamega senator, who is the DCP deputy party leader, Cleophas Malala, insists its candidate should be supported as a show of good faith after they dropped out of the Malava parliamentary seat race in favour of Seth Panyako.
The Kisa East by-election follows the death of the area MCA, Stephen Maloba. Maloba passed away after he was stabbed at a political rally following a confrontation between two factions in 2023.
Who rejected the ODM ticket?
Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had suffered a setback after its candidate in the Kisa East by-election rejected their ticket.
The candidate, Abraham Ayaya, wrote to the party saying he had opted to vie for the seat on a DAP-K ticket.
Ayaya said he has never been a member of ODM and that the party planned to blackmail his name.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
