Kisii Governor James Ongwae celebrated after ‘beating’ his 2017 rival and Kisii Senator Chris Obure in a closely contested Nyacheki ward by-elections.
Mr Naphtali Onkoba, a favorite candidate for Ongwae beat Maxwell Magoma who had blessings of Obure’s Bobasi constituency where he was MP before winning senatorial elections.
Addressing several supporters at Isena Tallying center on Wednesday evening. Ongwae lauded area residents for sending a clear message to his detractors and urged them to replicate the message in 2017 polls.
“These results were more than MCA contest. My critics who have no substance had ganged up against me and I thank the people of Bobasi for saying no to clanism and supporting good leadership,” he said amidst anti-Obure chants.
“You have stood with our OD candidate and we will not let you down. I want you to communicate the same message to people in 2017 elections because this contest is far from over. We are immediately starting to finalise a number of projects we have launched here,” he said.
Senator Obure, a former ally of opposition leader Raila Odinga decamped to Jubilee Party saying the move will help the region develop.
ODM candidate Naphtali Onkoba garnered 2216 votes to be declared the winner in the hotly contested polls.