Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi at a past function. [Photo: the-star.co.ke]
Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi has gone into books of history as the first Senator to retain his post since the promulgation of the new constitution.
However, the senator’s victory was not a walk at the park as his rivals mounted powerful campaigns as they sought to send him packing.
Wamatangi garnered 727,092 votes (74.82 per cent) to retain his seat in one of the most watched races at the senatorial level.
He floored Ngewa MCA Karungo Wa Thang'wa who opted to contest for the seat as an Independent after losing during Jubilee party nominations to Wamatangi.
The senator became the second to garner the highest number of votes during this year’s general election after Nairobi’s Johnson Sakaja who garnered 817,388 votes to floor Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Sifuna Edwin.
Speaking after he was declared the winner, Wamatangi promised better leadership during his second term in office.
“I want to make it clear that I will continue serving the people as their senator diligently by playing my roles without being coerced or wavering so that we move the county forward,” Wamatangi, as quoted by Nation.
The incumbent senator also faced stiff competition from candidates on other party tickets including Kanu’s Juliet Kimemia (JKUAT lecturer) and Narc Kenya’s Kevin Chege.
Thang’wa garnered 222,183 votes (22.86 per cent) while Kimemia got and Chege got 14,726 votes and 7,792 votes respectively.