Nairobi, Kenya: Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Thursday declared Moses Kuria as the Gatundu South Member of Parliament, taking the seat that fell vacant following the death of Joss Ngugi.
Kuria and Kiarie Kamere of New Democrats Party were the only two contestants for the seat after opponents of the TNA candidate regrouped to front a single candidate.
The widow of former MP Joseph Ngugi, Joyce Wanjiku, who came second in the party primaries held in July and who had since pulled out of the race, and John Karing’u, who came a distant fourth, resolved to back Kiarie Kamere.
Kamere later withdrew from the race leaving Kuria as the only candidate, prompting IEBC to declare him the winner.
“Moses Kiarie Kuria has been issued with a certificate declaring him Member National Assembly for Gatundu South constituency. IEBC published a Gazette notice declaring a no contest for the By-election that would have been conducted today (Thursday),” read a statement by IEBC.
Tuesday, IEBC declared a no contest in the by-election that was scheduled for today (August 7), after Kamere presented a confirmation of withdrawal from the race.
The New Democrats Party wrote to IEBC supporting Kiarie Kamere’s decision to withdraw his candidature and stated that the party would not field any other candidate.
-standardmedia.co.ke
