Speaker Kingi's PAA, UDA clash over Magarini by-election

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi says PAA has no agreement with UDA on fielding candidates in elections. [File, Standard] Senate Speaker Amason Kingi-led Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) has declined United Democratic Party's (UDA) request not to field a candidate for the Magarini by-election on November 27. Kingi said PAA rejected the request because the two outfits do not have an agreement stipulating that his party should not present a candidate in a by-election in the country. The seat was declared vacant after MP Harrison Kombe of ODM lost in an election petition filed by Mr Stanley Kenga, the UDA candidate in the 2022 election. "We have completed plans to have PAA candidate Michael Kingi recapture the Magarini parliamentary seat during the by-election on November 27 this year. ODM leaders at the Coast, including Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung'aro, have backed Kombe to recapture the seat. It is not clear if former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho supports Kombe. On Sunday, ODM Deputy Party Leader Abdulswamad Nassir said he had confidence in the Kilifi governor, who is leading the campaign for Kombe. "We have confidence in the ODM team led by Kilifi Governor Gideon Mungaro to help Kombe win the seat to prove he is more popular in the constituency than any candidate," said Nassir. The by-election was ordered by the Supreme Court, which upheld the decisions of the appellate and election petition court that Kombe engaged in ballot stuffing. The court also found that there were irregularities which affected the integrity of the 2022 General Election. The Supreme Court last year also ordered Kombe to pay Kenga Sh2 million as the cost of the suit. Kingi warned political party leaders against engaging in violent campaigns. He said PAA has done a grassroots campaign and was ready for the by-election. "We started planning how to capture the seat immediately after the Supreme Court declared the seat vacant, and that is why we are sure of recapturing the seat," said Kingi. The Speaker claimed that ODM and UDA popularity had diminished in the Coast Region, and exuded confidence that PAA would win the seat. Kenga said that despite having been rigged out by the ODM party during the last General Election, he was sure of winning the seat because his supporters were still intact. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), said the coming by-elections have been organised in two batches. The first batch will feature by-elections in 16 wards, which include one Chwani ward in Tana River in the Coast region. The second batch is for six constituencies, which include one member of the senate for Baringo County and six MPs for Banisa, Kasipul, Magarini, Malava, Mbere North and Ugunja.

Speaker Kingi's PAA, UDA clash over Magarini by-election

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Speaker Kingi's PAA, UDA clash over Magarini by-election

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