The campaigns for the Machakos Senatorial by-election are heating up with rival camps flexing the political muscles to build support for their candidates.
On Tuesday, January 26, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) cleared 11 aspirants for the seat and two main political groups hit the ground running after the green light.
Immediately after receiving the nomination papers, United Democracy Alliance (UDA) senatorial candidate, Urbanas Ngengele Muthama's team embark on extending their campaign efforts in the county, starting in Machakos town.
With a convoy consisting of boda boda riders, motor vehicles as well as campaign trucks, the politicians casually snaked their way on the major roads before culminating their address in the town.
The UDA camp was led by former Senators Johnstone Muthama (Machakos), Hassan Omar (Mombasa) as well as Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Mwala MP Vincent Kawaya.
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"Fellow residents, the journey of getting Ngengele elected as our third senator starts today. As a people, we must demand accountability, guard what is rightful ours and work together in building Machakos economy so as to lift up everyone living standards," Muthama stated during a stopover.
The Wiper convoy was not left behind either as they campaigned for their candidate Agnes Kavindu who had also been cleared to run by IEBC.
She was joined by some of the political heavyweights from the region including Kalonzo Musyoka, Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr, Transport CAS Wavinya Ndeti.
"Wiper has unveiled Its candidate, Agnes Kavindu, to replace our friend and brother, the late Senator Boniface Kabaka. This is it - Na si udaku! Katambe (These are not rumours. Let's go!)" Senator Kilonzo proclaimed.
NASA affiliates, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula were also part of the Wiper convoy.
Musyoka thanked the residents, who turned out in hundreds, for the warm reception.
The Machakos mini-poll is slated for March 18, 2021, after the seat became vacant following the death of Senator Boniface Kabaka in December 2020.
Here are more photos from the campaigns on Tuesday 26, January 2021.
