Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria was elated following his party’s emphatic win at Juja constituency by-elections where his candidate George Koimburi beat the ruling party Jubilee’s Susan Njeri.
The win was a big blow to the handshake team coming barely a week after another devastating High Court judgement that declared BBI null and void and called for impeachment of President Uhuru.
To compound the matters, Jubilee also lost the Rurii ward by-election in Nyandarua County to UDA that is associated with the Deputy President William Ruto.
The win by UDA marked the party’s grand entry to Mt Kenya and a big boost to the tanga tanga followers of the Deputy President – who have vowed to take over the region from Uhuru.
With Kuria’s PEP party winning a parliamentary seat and two MCA seats, it gives the controversial legislator bragging rights and a bigger stake at negotiating with Ruto who is seeking support from Mt Kenya for his presidential bid.
Kuria has been positioning himself as the running mate for Ruto but has also refused to fold up his party as requested by UDA.
On Wednesday Kuria said he happy at the outcome but his focus was now on Kiambaa constituency by-election that was left vacant following the death of the area MP Paul Koinange.
Kuria moves to Kiambaa with fresh impetus and is hoping exploit the current momentum to deliver a second win in as many weeks.
Jubilee was also beaten in Bonachari in Kisii County that went to ODM – but the handling of the by-election has opened new fault lines within the handshake team following accusations that police were used to intimidate ODM supporters.
Among those who have congratulated Koimburi is former Kiambu governor William Kabogo who is a former area MP – who called for unity and focus to serve the people.
