Businessman Zaheer Jhanda Defeats ‘Favourites’ To Clinch Nyaribari Chache MP Seat

KISII, Kenya, Aug, 12 – Kisii businessman, Zaheer Jhanda of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has broken the ethnic and clan politics of the Abagusii community to clinch the Nyaribari Chache parliamentary seat.

Jhanda, a Kenyan of Asian origin, was making a third attempt at capturing the seat which has been previously occupied by legislators from the local community.

He was pronounced the MP-elect by the Constituency’s Returning Officer, Mark Manco having garnered 31,684 votes followed by Jubilee’s Richard Tong’i who managed to get 10,039 votes.

Tong’i, who was defending his seat for a third term, conceded defeat on Wednesday morning before IEBC released the official results and wished the new MP elect well as he serves the people of Nyaribari Chache.

The former Kenya Pipeline Company Chairman, James Kenani of ODM came third with 5086 votes while veteran journalist, Eric Obino (KANU) was fourth with 3529 votes.

Chris Bichage who is an Independent candidate followed with 1929 votes while immediate former Kiogoro MCA, Samuel Apoko (UPIA) got 698 votes.

He was followed by Rioba Vincent (PPOK) and Henry Otara (UPA) who garnered 157 and 154 votes respectively.  Nelson Onserio, another independent candidate, got 133 votes while Momanyi Thaddeus (NOPEU) managed to secure 128 votes.

Addressing his supporters shortly after being pronounced the winner on Friday morning, Jhanda expressed his gratitude to his family, IEBC officials and security agencies as well as those who supported him in this year’s election.

“I want to thank you people for believing in me and trusting me. I promise you that I will not let you down, I will work hard and ensure that we take the Nyaribari Chache to the next level,” he said.

The businessman joined politics in 2012 and vied for the parliamentary seat on a URP ticket losing to Chris Bichage, who later lost the seat after a successful petition by Tong’i.

Nyaribari Chache is a largely cosmopolitan constituency with 88,553 registered voters in Kisii comprising of Abagusii community and those of Somali, Luo, Kambas and Agikuyu communities.