This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
On October 19, 2019, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) emerged victorious in the Ganda ward by-election, a major warning shot to Deputy President William Ruto, who has been making inroads in the Coast region ahead of the 2022 polls.
Deputy President William Ruto had personally financed the area MP, Aisha Jumwa, to face off against the Orange Party. However, things proved to be different on the ground as ODM's Reuben Katana was declared the winner after garnering 4,177 votes to beat independent candidate Abdul Omar, who had 2,331 votes.
Mr. Omar was tacitly backed by Ms. Jumwa and was seen as Mr. Ruto's candidate in the battle against the ODM man. Jubilee Party's Joseph Kiponda was third with 589 votes and followed by Kadu Asili's David Mitsanze with 362 votes.
The result is a setback for Ms. Jumwa, who is eyeing the Kilifi gubernatorial seat in 2022, given her failure to sway voters in favor of Mr. Omar in her own constituency.
ODM's victory was also celebrated by thousands of supporters of former Jubilee point man in the region, Gideon Mung'aro, who is now Lands chief administrative secretary.
It was also celebrated by former Jubilee parliamentary aspirant Philip Charo and former Malindi MP William Mtengo, who lost to Ms. Jumwa in the ODM primaries in 2017.
Speaking after he was declared the winner at the Takaye Primary Tallying Centre, Mr. Katana urged his rivals to put aside retrogressive politics and join him in serving residents.
“Let us stop political division based on party, tribe or religion … it is time to build the nation,” he said.
