Stage set for duel in Wundanyi-Mbale Ward mini poll

Residents of Wundanyi-Mbale line up to cast their vote early on Tuesday. [Standard]

Wundanyi-Mbale Ward electorates in Taita-Taveta County took to the ballot to elect a new ward representative on Tuesday morning. 

The seat, which has attracted the interest of country’s leading political parties fell vacant after the death of former MCA Beatrice Mwabili in late March 2020.

The voters streamed to different polling stations while following all the necessary Covid-19 protocols of temperature checks, social distance, wearing masks and sanitising.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced that voters would be required to strictly follow the containment measures during the exercise.

The by-election has attracted 14 candidates. One of the contestants is a woman trying to fill the boots left behind by the late Mwabili, who was the only female elected MCA in the Taita Taveta County Assembly.

All eyes are on Getrude Mwakio as she battles it with the other 13 candidates predominantly male counterparts.  
The by-elections in Wudanyi-Mbale run concurrently with those in Msambweni parliamentary mini poll.

The by-election was also brought about by the death of the area MP Suleiman Dori in March.

There are 25 polling stations with over 11,000 total registered voters.