Many people had expressed confidence that for the first time, the county would shelve its support for President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party and vote for independent candidates and other parties.
The county is known for voting as a block against every leader who vies using a party other than the one being used by the President.
In 2013, only one out of the 7 MPs in the county and one MCA were elected out of the TNA party which was the President’s party.
Gatanga MP Humprey Njuguna was elected through the Narc party after being defeated in the TNA nominations while Kariara MCA Muhoro Njeri was elected through the same party.
Many people however did not agree with the Jubilee party nominations conducted in April, which raised expectations that many independent candidates would be voted in.
Over 140 independent candidates, most of whom failed in the nominations declared their candidature led by senator Kembi Gitura, decrying the poor manner in which the exercise was conducted.
Kembi who was the senate deputy speaker had complained of massive rigging and discrepancies before resigning from the party to run independently after losing to Irungu Kang’ata.
Kembi has so far garnered 198,200 against Kang’ata’s 242,938 in 995 polling stations that have already been tallied out of 1,131 stations.
A fierce campaign ensued between the two rivals after the nominations with many considering the senate seat a close call.
While casting his vote at Vidhu Ramji in Murang’a town, Kembi had pledged to concede defeat if it was determined that the IEBC conducted free and fair elections.
Sabina Chege who was fighting to retain her seat as the women representative has also opened a wide gap against her opponent Evelyne Waithira Nyoike, also an independent candidate.
Chege has so far managed to get 339,205 against Waithira’s 97,708.
In the governor seat, Mwangi wa Iria is leading with 303,563 against Moses Mwangi who has garnered 137,098.
Both Wa Iria and Mwangi had exuded confidence that they would win the seat with the latter saying that the county needed change.
Provisional results also indicate that most Jubilee party nominees in the parliamentary and MCA seats will win.
-The Star