TNA's Joel Onyancha retains Bomachoge Borabu parliamentary seat

TNA's Joel Onyancha.

By Standard Reporter

Kisii, Kenya: TNA candidate in Bomachoge Borabu by-election Joel Onyancha retained his seat following a tight race with his rival in ODM Peter Kimori.

Onyancha garnered 10,134 votes against Kimori’s 9,775 in 78 out of 80 polling stations.

Ford People’s Albert Nyaundi was third with 3,258 votes while UDF’s Josiah Maaga had garnered 500 votes.

This represented a 65% voter turnout in the constituency. Voting ended in Bomachoge Borabu constituency with polling stations closed shortly after 5pm on Thursday.

Returning Officer Gilbert Serem said voters who were on the queue or within the precincts of the polling station at the time would be allowed to cast their votes.

 “It appears people didn’t attach much importance to this by election and that is why the turnout is low. However, we shall accept the verdict the electorate delivers at the end of the count,” said United

Voting in Bomachoge Borabu constituency by election got off to a slow start with candidates affiliated to major political parties trading accusations over claims of voter bribery and intimidation.

The exercise began at 6am when most polling stations opened doors to the public but no long queues were witnessed in the centres visited by The Standard.  By midday, 230 out of the 741 registered voters at Magenche Health Centre polling station had cast their votes.