Ruto Breaks Silence After Bader's Msambweni Win

DP William Ruto meeting independent candidate Faisal Bader alongside other Coast MPs.
DP William Ruto meeting independent candidate Faisal Bader alongside other Coast MPs.
DPPS

Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday, December 16 broke his silence after Independent candidate Feisal Bader won the Msambweni by-election. 

Ruto backed Bader after Jubilee Party decided not to field a candidate for the Mswambweni constituency parliamentary by-election.

The Jubilee Deputy Party Leader congratulated Bader on his win and stated that the victory is a plus for democracy and the will of the people.

Deputy President William Ruto speaking during a meeting with leaders at his home in Karen on December 2, 2020
Deputy President William Ruto speaking during a meeting with leaders at his home in Karen on December 2, 2020
DPPS

"Congratulation my friend Feisal Bader. Your win cements our trust in God and the people. Democracy and people power have triumphed.

"Watu wa Msambweni Mungu awabariki (God bless you, Msambweni people). Pongezi (Congratulations) E.Mwihaki(Gaturi), S.Wanango(Lakeview), K.Ochieng( Wendani) and all winners. To others, there's next time," noted Ruto.

The Deputy President also took time to laud MCAs who won their respective by-elections including People’s Empowerment Party candidate Esther Mwihaki who clinched the Gaturi ward representative seat. 

IEBC declared Feisal the winner of the by-election after garnering 15,251 votes against Boga's 10,444 votes from all the 129 polling stations.

Ruto went head to head with ODM party leader Raila Odinga in the hotly contested by-election that was marred by chaos in a show of might. 

Raila backed ODM candidate Omar Boga and pitched camp in Msambweni on Friday urging voters to rally behind Boga before the mini polls that were concluded on Tuesday.

Ruto and Raila allies engaged in a war of words during the campaign trail which turned to fistfights on the voting day. A confrontation ensued between Mvita MP Abdullswamad sheriff and his Nyali counterpart Mohamed Ali.

Raila had warned Msambweni residents that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) would face a huge hurdle if the ODM candidate lost in the by-election.

ODM through their Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna conceded defeat in the polls and congratulated the winners of various by-elections conducted on Tuesday.

"Congratulations to all winners in yesterday's by-elections especially ODM Candidates in Kisumu North and Dabaso Wards. We came up short in Msambweni and Wundanyi /Mbale but we regroup and forge ahead. Thanks to all our teams everywhere for the great effort," noted Sifuna.

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ODM leader Raila Odinga (in cowboy hat) campaigns for his Msambweni by-election candidate Omar Boga in Kwale on Friday, December 11, 2020
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