Wafula Wakoli Beats UDA, Azimio Candidates in Bungoma Senatorial Race

Bungoma Senator-elect Wafula Wakoli (left) and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula during a meet-the-people tour in Bungoma County ahead of the by-elections.
Bungoma Senator-elect Wafula Wakoli (left) and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula during a meet-the-people tour in Bungoma County ahead of the by-election.
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Moses Wetangula

Ford Kenya’s candidate in the Bungoma Senatorial by-elections, Wafula Wakoli, was declared the winner in the race to succeed National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula.

Wakoli garnered 66,032 votes, while his closest competitor Mwambu Mabonga of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), received 45,907 votes

Wafula Wamunyinyi, who was fronted as Azimio la Umoja's candidate in the mini-polls, finished a distant third after managing 20,519 votes

Shortly after the declaration, Wakoli stated that he was eager to embark on his campaign promises and implement Kenya Kwanza's agenda. 

Bungoma Senator-elect addresses a rally in Bungoma County during the campaigns.
Bungoma Senator-elect addresses a rally in Bungoma County during the campaigns.
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Moses Wetangula

He vowed to emulate his predecessor and walk in his steps in pushing legislation and oversight as the representative of Bungoma County.  In addition, the MP called for unity among elected leaders in the area, which he stated would be instrumental for development. 

"I am eager to start working for my people of Bungoma. It was not easy but I want to thank my footsoldiers here in Bungoma," he stated. 

Ford Kenya's victory was yet another manifestation of the party's firm grip on Bungoma County after clinching several positions in the August election. 

The mini-polls werenalso a show of sibling rivalry between the party and its Kenya-Kwanza partner UDA after attempts to field one candidate for the race proved futile.

Speaker Wetangula openly endorsed his former aide and urged Bungoma voters to elect him. He described Wakoli as the ideal person to replace him after serving the county for 10 years in the Senate. 

"David Wafula Wakoli has served in my office for the past ten years with total diligence, humility, respect and great honour. Throughout the period I have worked with him, I have never found him in any indiscipline acts," Wetangula stated during the campaigns. 

On its part, the Azimio la Umoja Coalition under the leadership of opposition chief Raila Odinga had banked on Wafula Wamunyinyi's experience in the region's politics to clinch the seat. 

However, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) Party Leader was dealt another election setback after initially failing to defend his Kanduyi Constituency parliamentary seat in the August 2022 elections. 

The seat fell vacant after the resignation of Speaker Moses Wetangula in September 2022 to vie for the speaker’s position.

NA Speaker Moses Wetangula casting his vote at Namakhele Primary School on December 8, 2022
NA Speaker Moses Wetangula casting his vote at Namakhele Primary School on December 8, 2022
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Moses Wetangula