By Coast Times correspondent
Former Mwatate Member of Parliament Andrew Mwadime braved all oddsย 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 aย political party.
The independent governor-elect garneredย 49,901 votes.
He trounced his competitor and outgoing governorย Granton Sambojaย ofย Jubilee partyย withย a resounding margin of 26,200 votes after Samboja garnered 23,701 votes.
Samboja was electedย with aย Wiper partyย ticketย in 2017 when he defeatedย the then governorย John Murutu before he moved to the Jubilee party in 2022.
Mwadimeย has served as member of parliament forย Mwatateย constituency sinceย 2013.
The council of governors (CoG) will now have two independent governors includingย Meruย governor-elect Kawira Mwangaza whoย defeatedย incumbentย Kiraitu Murungi.
Former governor John Mruttuย of United Democratic Allianceย (UDA) finished third with 13,865 votesย whileย Dan Mwazoย ย of WIPER garneredย 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 Safinaโs Francis Mwaita.
Mwadime said that he is ready to serve Taitaย Tavetaย residents by ensuring his administration revamp agriculture in theย 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,ย is considered as one of theย ODM strongholds, theย just concludedย electionย saw aย majority of leadersย electedย on aย WIPERย party ticket.
This may beย a clear indication that the ODM party command is fading away.
WIPER is seemingly taking over after it scoopย three out of four parliamentary seats includingย Taveta constituency whereย Bwire Okanoย emerged the winner asย Danson Mwashakoย clinchedย Wundanyi constituency seat.
Jones Mlolwa wasย trouncedย by WIPERโsย Hamisi Chome in Voi constituency.
