NAIROBI Kenya, Dec 30- FORD People’s Richard Nyagaka Tongi is the Nyaribari Chache MP-elect after polling 10, 100 votes, trouncing his rival Dr Chris Bichage of ODM who came close with 9,712 votes.
Tongi’s win is seen as a confirmation of the High Court ruling that nullified Bichage’s election, after his successful petition.
During the March 4 general election, Tongi vied on a Wiper Democratic Movement party ticket but lost to Bichage before he quickly petitioned the court to nullify the election, prompting the Monday by-election in which he vied on a FORD-people ticket.
Robert Monda of The National Alliance (TNA) party was third with 9,286 followed by Benson Mogaka of the Kenya Social Congress (KSC) who had 1,021 votes.
James Kenani of the National Labour Party (NLP) was fourth with 823 votes, followed by John Omanga of KANU who garnered 501 votes.
Narc Kenya’s Rael Otundo was seventh with 375 votes, followed by Jared Matundura of Kenya National Congress (KNC) with 75 votes while Douglas Marwa of The National Vision Party (NVP) was trailing with 29 votes.
Earlier in the day, the by-election was characterised by a low voter turn out in most centres, across the constituency that has 58,164 registered voters.
Despite claims of voter bribery which led to the arrest of three people, IEBC officials say the exercise was largely successful with no major hitches experienced.
The three who include a brother to one of the contestants have been freed on a 20,000 shilling bond each.
The seat fell vacant, after the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier High Court ruling, nullifying the March 4th election victory, of immediate former MP Bichage, of ODM.-capitalfm.co.ke
