In new twist, MP Jayne Kihara beats opponent for UDA ticket by one vote

The UDA party is expected to declare her the ticket winner on Tuesday.

Prior to filing a complaint, she had lost to John Kihangi, who had won the ticket in the first round with 9,903 votes.

The final tally, according to the committee, had excluded results from Maua Primary School and Millimani Secondary School polling stations.

In the two stations, she received 57 and 23 votes, respectively, while her opponent received 35 and 16 votes.

"In the end, the committee finds that based on the figures above which were also affirmed by the second respondent, Jayne Wanjiru Kihara obtained the highest number of votes. As such she ought to have been declared the validly nominated candidate," a ruling from the committee reads. 

"In the upshot, the order that commends itself is an order directing the second respondent to forthwith issue a nomination certificate to Jayne Wanjiru Kihara, the duly nominated Member of National Assembly (MNA) for Naivasha Constituency in Nakuru County. Each party shall bear its costs."

Kihara told the committee that her opponent had participated in transporting ballot materials to polling stations in violation of electoral law when she filed her complaint.

"This happened specifically in Rutere and Gituru polling centers where due to the logistical challenges initially experienced, the 1st respondent took over the transportation of ballot materials,” the ruling reads. 

The incumbent MP also claimed voter intimidation and that some polling stations conspired with her opponent to give him an unfair advantage.

The legislator also claimed that the presiding officers at several polling stations conspired with her opponent to give him an unfair advantage.