Ruto Diehard Kimani Ngunjiri Loses Seat to Jubilee Candidate

File image of Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri with Deputy President William Ruto.
File image of Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri with Deputy President William Ruto.

Outspoken Bahati Member of Parliament Kimani Ngunjiri on Thursday, August 11, lost his re-election bid after being floored by Jubilee candidate Irene Njoki.

In the results announced by the IEBC's Returning Officer in Bahati tallying centre, Njoki garnered 34,308 votes while Ngunjiri came second with 26,809 votes.

Speaking to the media after she was declared the winner, Njoki thanked her campaign team for standing with her and the people of Bahati for coming out in large numbers to vote for her.

The Jubilee candidate won the Bahati parliamentary seat on her first attempt.

Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri and current MP Irene Njoki.
Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri and current MP Irene Njoki.
Courtesy

She credited her win to Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

During the campaign period, Njoki had accused Ngunjiri and his supporters of intimidation. She accused the incumbent of attacking her campaign vehicles.

Ngunjiri had a hard time clinching the Bahati seat amid accusations from his UDA camp.

Senator Susan Kihika accused Ngunjiri of working against Kenya Kwanza. The senator claimed Nginjiri was holding meetings with Azimio La Umoja candidates an accusation the incumbent did not deny.

Ngunjiri explained that he met the Azimio team and they informed him that they would choose leaders of other parties for the governor, MPs, and Members of County Assemblies.

In an interview, he insisted that nobody should be forced to choose a leader because of the party they supported.

"People from Nyanza come to my place and we share tea. We talk so well and the interesting thing they tell me is that they will vote for Raila Odinga as President but the other seats will vary.

"Despite where you come from, here is your home. You cannot choose a neighbour but you can choose a friend. Let us leave the contest at the top. Let us choose a governor we want, an MP, and MCA we want," he stated.

The Legislator further hit out at Kihika for criticising his meeting with the incumbent governor, Lee Kinyanjui. He insisted that he would not be bullied to choose who he associates with.

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Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri addresses a gathering in Nakuru County on Wednesday, January 6, 2021
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Kimani Ngunjiri