Ex-Nairobi MCA in Surprise Gubernatorial Win in a Far-Flung County

An image of Isiolo governor-elect Abdi Guyo.
An image of Isiolo Governor-elect Abdi Guyo.
File

Former Matopeni Member of County Assembly, Abdi Ibrahim Guyo, has been elected the governor of Isiolo county.

Guyo was declared the governor-elect on Friday, August 12, after garnering 58,946 votes.

The former Leader of Majority in the Nairobi County Assembly contested for the gubernatorial seat on a Jubilee Party ticket.

An exterior shot of the City Hall front entrance In Nairobi City. Thursday, February 20, 2020
City Hall front entrance in Nairobi City. Thursday, February 20, 2020. The building houses the Nairobi County Assembly.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

His closest rival was former governor, Godana Doyo, who got 26,270 votes. The former county boss was an independent ticket.

In his acceptance speech, Guyo stated that he would prioritise the economic development of the county which has been projected as one of the fastest growing in the country.

He added that he would serve all the county residents equally, noting that his win was a representation of his overwhelming support.

"I am honoured and grateful to the people of Isiolo for bestowing on me the trust to serve as the third Governor of Isiolo. I thank my family, my campaign team and the people who supported me for the last couple of months.

"To my competitors, the campaigns are behind us. The election period is over and it's time to dust off, heal the custom bruises and join hands in serving the people of Isiolo," Guyo stated in his acceptance speech.

With his win, Guyo becomes the first governor to be elected on a Jubilee Party ticket in the just concluded elections.

The majority of Jubilee's gubernatorial candidates failed to clinch their seats in their respective counties.

Some of the candidates who lost include former Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, John Munyes, who was contesting in Turkana and former EAC Cabinet Secretary, Adan Mohamed (Mandera).

“We have come to the end of elections and new leaders have been elected and as usual there is a lot of noise that happens during campaigns and elections, a lot of allegations of mistrust, malpractices, but that said, on my own personal account I want to wish elected leaders well,” Mohamed said in his concession speech.

“My message to the Mandera people is we maintain peace and we keep working together as a community that coexists within Mandera.”

An undated photo of Petroleum CS John Munyes in Parliament
An undated photo of Petroleum CS John Munyes in Parliament
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