By Betty Luke
Only one out of 10 Isiolo elected MCAs survived voters’ onslaught in the last week’s General elections.
Oldonyiro MCA David Lemantile got a greenlight to his third consecutive term after garnering 2,106 votes against Lokurtut Ltemuche who emerged second with 1204 vote with John Lesingiran coming third with 568 votes.
Outgoing Isiolo County Assembly Majority Leader and Kinna ward representative Isack Fayo was sent home by Jillo Abdinur Dima who garnered 2,438 votes in the August 9 contest. Mr Fayo got only 225 votes.
In a highly contested Bulapesa MCA race, The Service Party’s David Nyoro Waithaka trounced 19 others garnering 1585 votes followed closely by Mr Witherford Mwirigi (Devolution Empowerment Party) and UDA’s Leloon Mutuma in second and third positions with 971 votes and 946 votes respectively.
Ex-MCA Moses Kithinji who was seeking a comeback on Agriculture CS Peter Munya’s PNU party came in fourth with 938 votes while outgoing MCA Idd Hassan got only 389 votes.
In Wabera ward, former MCA Salesio Kiambi (Narc-Kenya) dislodged MCA Abdi Diba after garnering 2, 353 against his 661 votes. Mr Abdi came third behind Ms Galma Lokho Dulacha who got 1581 votes.
Former aide to outgoing Chari MCA Ali Dima, Meja Abdullahi Golicha, trounced his boss after garnering 839 votes against Dima’s 688 votes. Kalicha Dida Ali and Galgalo Ali Boru came third and fourth with 660 votes and 596 votes respectively.
In Cherab Ward, Former Isiolo county Tourism Executive Halima Abgudo emerged the winner with 2,361 votes after thrashing opponents Mr Osman Abdirahman and UDA’s Mohammed Jirmo (outgoing) becoming the first and only elected female MCA in the county since the advent of devolution.
Mr Abdirahman and Jirmo garnered 1,709 and 903 votes respectively. Kunune Abdi Halakhe came fourth with 499 votes.
Burat Ward’s Yarrow Hassan lost the seat to UDA’s Ewoton Lorot coming third in the race that had attracted 23 candidates.
Mr Lorot garnered 2,304 followed by Mr Abey Khalif who managed 1,298 with Mr Hassan getting 1040 votes.
Ngaremara voters replaced MCA Ekwam Teru with his predecessor Peter Losu who was seeking a comeback on UDA’s ticket and who garnered 2, 254 votes with the outgoing getting 679 votes.
In Sericho, Mr Godana Abubakar Abdi trounced incumbent Nura Diba after garnering 1, 760 votes. Mr Diba got 874 votes.
Abdirashid Ali trounced two-term Garbatulla MCA Abdi Sora after garnering 2008 votes against Sora’s 1287 votes.
A section of the residents who spoke to The Press Point said the lawmakers had failed to fully execute their representation, oversight and a legislation role therefore need to replace them.
“We elected them to represent us and safeguard our interest in government but majority of them set out to fulfill their selfish interest and therefore the need to replace them with those with community interests at heart,” said Mr Abdi Jillo from Sericho.
Ms Hadijah Osman, another resident who hails from Wabera, accused the ward reps of being reduced to a ‘rubber stamp’ by the county executive to pass policies meant to benefit a few leaders and their cronies.
“We had no option but to send them home because they have done nothing for us for the five years they have been in office,” she claimed.
