By Coast Times correspondent
Former Mwatate Member of Parliament Andrew Mwadime braved all oddsĀ to win Taita Taveta governor seat in a hotly contested election.
Mwadime clinched the seat having thrown himself in the ring without being sponsored by aĀ political party.
The independent governor-elect garneredĀ 49,901 votes.
He trounced his competitor and outgoing governorĀ Granton SambojaĀ ofĀ Jubilee partyĀ withĀ a resounding margin of 26,200 votes after Samboja garnered 23,701 votes.
Samboja was electedĀ with aĀ Wiper partyĀ ticketĀ in 2017 when he defeatedĀ the then governorĀ John Murutu before he moved to the Jubilee party in 2022.
MwadimeĀ has served as member of parliament forĀ MwatateĀ constituency sinceĀ 2013.
The council of governors (CoG) will now have two independent governors includingĀ MeruĀ governor-elect Kawira Mwangaza whoĀ defeatedĀ incumbentĀ Kiraitu Murungi.
Former governor John MruttuĀ of United Democratic AllianceĀ (UDA) finished third with 13,865 votesĀ whileĀ Dan MwazoĀ Ā of WIPER garneredĀ 11,543 votes.
About 13 contestants participated in the governor election including Stephen Mwakesi (PEP), Journalist Patience Nyange (Narc), George Mwandembo (DAP), Prof Agnes Mwang’ombe (ANC), Godino Mwasaru (Independent), Onsemus Mwinzi (Independent), Tom Mwakwida, (ODM), Faustin Mghendi (TSP) and Safinaās Francis Mwaita.
Mwadime said that he is ready to serve TaitaĀ TavetaĀ residents by ensuring his administration revamp agriculture in theĀ county.
He noted that fighting hunger is a priority for his administration while promising to bring all leaders together in a bid to reasonably strategize for the region’s development.
Although Taita Taveta, being a county in the Coast region,Ā is considered as one of theĀ ODM strongholds, theĀ just concludedĀ electionĀ saw aĀ majority of leadersĀ electedĀ on aĀ WIPERĀ party ticket.
This may beĀ a clear indication that the ODM party command is fading away.
WIPER is seemingly taking over after it scoopĀ three out of four parliamentary seats includingĀ Taveta constituency whereĀ Bwire OkanoĀ emerged the winner asĀ Danson MwashakoĀ clinchedĀ Wundanyi constituency seat.
Jones Mlolwa wasĀ trouncedĀ by WIPERāsĀ Hamisi Chome in Voi constituency.
