Outgoing Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has lost the Makueni senatorial contest.
Kibwana, who was vying on a Muungano Party ticket lost to Wiper candidate Dan Maanzo, who was his student at the University of Nairobi.
The two-term governor garnered 59,034 votes against the Wiper candidate's 177,273 votes.
However, Prof Kibwana dismissed the declaration, questioning the transparency of the election. He also alleged that the vote in Kibwezi West constituency should have been postponed.
"In MakueniCounty elections were compromised. Kibwezi West elections should have been postponed.
"For instance,initially kiems kits in 106/206 polling stations failed. For more than 6 hrs kits in 84 stations failed before chaotic manual voting which ended about 1am," he stated.
On August 9, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera approved the use of the manual voters register in select areas including Makueni following malfunctioning of Kiems kits.
“In this case, it has been ascertained as the commissioners have written emails and therefore have been given the leeway to use manual register,”
Meanwhile, Maanzo was presented with his certificate at the Makueni county tallying centre in Wote.
Kibwana, who had served his two terms as county boss launched his senatorial bid to replace Mutula Kilonzo, who went for the gubernatorial seat.
He joins colleagues and second-term Martin Wambora (Embu), Alex Tolgos (Elgeyo Marakwet) whose bid to run for the senate flopped. Only Jackson Mandago managed to clinch the seat.
Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong also lost his bid to become Teso South MP. Other governors who failed to retain their seats including John Lonyangapuo, Kiraitu Murungi, and Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma).
