IEBC Commissioner Abdi Guliye after announcing Abubakar Mohamed Shide winner of Masalani Ward by-election. [Photo/nation.co.ke]
Former Garissa deputy speaker Abubakar Shide has thanked the people of Masalani who voted for him, enabling him to recaptured his Masalani ward seat in a hotly contested election.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday after he was declared the winner, Mr Shide said those who voted for him or otherwise remain residents of Garissa and must be served equally without favor.
He thanked the residents of Masalani for once again showing faith in his leadership saying that he will serve them equally and with the same vigour as in his first term.
Mr Shide extended an olive branch to his competitors and promised to work with them urging other leaders to also work with him to provide opportunities to the area residents to improve their lives and get ahead.
“I want to assure the residents of Masalani that mine will be a servant leadership. I will join hands with other leaders in moving Masalani forward,” he said.
The ward election, which was to take place during the August 8 General Election, was deferred following the death of one of the aspirants, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi who died in a road accident 33 days to the elections.
Mr. Shide was on Wednesday declared the winner by Ijara returning officer Farah Abdi after Mr Shide of Kenya Patriotic Party garnered 2,922 votes against his close rival Mr. Suleiman Abdulllahi, a brother to the deceased who got 2870 votes.