UDA political bigwigs floored in surprise nomination outcomes

A host of prominent names who sought various elective seats on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket have had their ambitions cut short after being floored by relatively new faces in the party’s nominations exercise.

The exercise, which was held across 36 counties in the country on Thursday, yielded surprising turn-outs as the results started trickling in on Friday.

Big names, outspoken politicians, and incumbents were left biting the dust and licking their wounds as they were hounded out by newbies.

Among the big losers in the Deputy President William Ruto-led UDA party nominations include:

The Laikipia Woman Representative lost out to incumbent MP Amin Deddy in the Laikipia East Constituency’s nominations.

Deddy garnered 12,723 votes in the primaries while Waruguru came in second place with 5,595 votes, a difference of 7,148 votes.

Kuresoi North MP Moses Cheboi, who is also the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, lost the nominations to Alfred Mutai, a former charcoal dealer and the current Sirikiwa ward MCA.

Mutai got 17,247 votes against Cheboi's 12,454.

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara was caught flat-footed by former area legislator John Kihagi who now makes a comeback to the political scene.

Kihara garnered 9,991 votes, losing out to Kihagi who amassed 10,394 votes.

Keiyo North MP James Murgor narrowly lost the ticket to Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen’s aide Adams Kipsanai.

The legislator got 6,383 votes while Kipsanai received 6,523 votes.

Keiyo South MP Daniel Rono also lost the chance to defend his seat after being trounced by businessman Gideon Kimaiyo in the Thursday primaries.

The Soy legislator, a close ally of party leader DP William Ruto, was seeking the Uasin Gishu governor's ticket but fell short.

Jonathan  Bii won the ticket after garnering 71,152 votes, followed by Julius Bitok (59,001), Sarah Serem (19,112), Kositany (17,150) etc.