Mr Joshua Irungu Wakahora, 42 floored Public Works Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and Industrialisation Assistant Minister Ndiritu Muriithi.
Mr Kiunjuri was vying on a GNU ticket, of which he is the party leader, while Muriithi contested on a UDF ticket.
Kiunjuri’s votes
In Laikipia East Constituency, Kiunjuri polled 12,540, with Irungu garnering 25,034.
In total county tally, Irungu scooped a whooping 83,814 votes, with Kiunjuri scoring a paltry 43,072, while Muriithi emerged third with 19,178 votes. Richard Mburu Kamau was the last with 9,934 votes.
Thanking electorate
“I thank the people of Laikipia for accepting me and owning me. I ensured they owned my campaigns all along, and that is why we have come all this long,’ said Irungu in an interview with The Standard on Saturday.
Irungu’s choice of TNA as his vehicle could probably have led to his impressive performance.
What is worth noting is even after being GNU leader, Kiunjuri could not convince the voters.
TNA County deputy chairman Christopher Maitho noted the former MP’s politics has been overtaken with time, and the residents “have got tired with him.”
Rejected by people
“This can be proved by the fact that despite him being an assistant minister, the people he represented rejected him massively. Why is it that he did not even come back to the people to concede defeat?” said Maitho.
Irungu said his dream is to enhance peace and improve security in the region, which has been listed as a clashes hotspot.
“I also aim at improving education and training, which can only be achieved through upgrading transition from primary to secondary and tertiary institutions,” he said.
He added: “I am ready to promote employment by empowering dairy farmers, establishing maize milling factories and marketing the produce.”
