The just concluded election has ushered in the highest number of siblings to the National Assembly in the country’s history.
In what was seen as an avenue to entrench dynasties, influential families had herded two or three members to the ballot and put up a spirited fight to bulldoze them through.
In the end four siblings won National Assembly seats.
In central Rift Valley two of retired President Moi’s sons clinched two parliamentary seats.
Gideon, who represented Baringo Central between 2002 and 2007, won the senate seat despite high profile campaign by Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and running mate William Ruto to have the Rev Jackson Kosgei of URP elected.
Mr Moi’s other son, Raymond, trounced Mr Ruto’s ally Luka Kigen, to bag the Rongai constituency seat. The Moi brothers flew Kanu flags.
Their election must have come as comfort for the retired president who in 2007 bore the brunt of ODM supporters who destroyed his property for supporting PNU’s Mwai Kibaki.
In the previous elections, Mr Moi had lined up three of his sons — Raymond, Jonathan and Gideon — with the former managing to succeed him in the Baringo Central seat in 2002.
In 2007 none of them withstood the ODM wave.
Another interesting outcome of this year’s contest is the election of both Trademinister Moses Wetang’ula as the Bungoma senator and his brother Tim Wanyonyi as the MP for Westlands in Nairobi.
Mr Wanyonyi is a lawyer and advocate of the rights of persons living with disabilities.
Another pair of brother-lawyers is that of Immigration minister Otieno Kajwang’ and T.J. Kajwang’.
The elder Kajwang’ won the Homa Bay senate seat while his younger brother clinched the newly created Ruaraka constituency in Nairobi on ODM.
In Narok, Stephen and Patrick, two sons of the late Paramount Chief of the Maasai Lerionka Ntutu, won the Narok County senate and the newly created Narok West constituency, respectively, both flying the URP mast.
The elder Ntutu’s closest rival Andrew Sunkuli, has however claimed he was rigged out and vowed to petition the results.
Andrew’s elder brother, Julius, a former ambassador to China and one time minister for Internal Security, was also in the race.
The elder Sunkuli’s wife Janet Naserian lost in the primaries stage in her bid to fly the ODM mast in Kilgoris.
Still in Narok, outgoing Kilgoris MP Gideon Kochella successfully defended his seat on the URP ticket, while his brother John Dalton lost in his bid for Narok governor.
In Vihiga County, one time Sabatia MP Moses Akaranga clinched the governor’s seat while his step sister Dorcas Kedogo is the County Representative-elect.
It was a big blow to veteran politician William ole Ntimama’s family after both father and daughter Lydia Masikonte failed in their bids.
Mr Ntimama was defending the Narok North seat he has held for 25 years while Ms Masikonte was seeking to be the county’s Women representative.
In the primaries, emotions ran high in Kisumu and Siaya counties against what residents saw as an attempt to impose PM Raila Odinga’s brother Oburu Oginga and sister Ruth Odinga as candidates for governor.
In the end Dr Oginga was disqualified following the disputed nomination pitting him against Mr William Oduol who later ditched ODM.
Ruth settled for running mate in Kisumu and the win by the ODM governor candidate Jack Ranguma means she is the deputy governor designate.
Her cousin, Mr Jakoyo Midowo, successfully defended his Gem constituency seat.
In the North Rift, the family leadership mantle was passed from father to son when Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey lost his Nandi senate bid, but his son Alex bagged Emgwen constituency in the same county on a URP ticket.
At the Coast, it was a double blow for the family of seasoned politician Ramadhan Seif Kajembe, who lost the senator’s seat bid, while his son Seif Ramadhan lost the fight for the newly-created Jomvu constituency.
But there was solace for the family as the seat went to Mr Kajembe’s son-in-law Badi Twalib of the Wiper party.
In Nairobi Bishop Margaret Wanjiru lost her bid for Nairobi senator while her son, Steven Kariuki (ODM) clinched the Mathare parliamentary seat with 34,957 votes ahead of TNA’s Mike Wanjohi who got 32,156 votes.
In Taita Taveta assistant minister Calist Mwatela and his wife Jacinta vied for governor and Mwatate constituency seat, respectively.
Mr Mwatela lost during the primaries while the former CBK deputy governor lost on Thursday to ODM’s John Mruttu.
Source:Daily Nation
