George Kebaso
Jubilee Party candidate Ahmed Kolosh was on Friday declared the Wajir West parliamentary by-election winner According to the results released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) returning officer Maurice Raria at Griftu Primary School, Kolosh garnered 11,053 votes against Kanu’s Sheikh Ibrahim 6,532.
The by-election recorded more than 60 per cent voter turnout with 17,606 ballots cast. The constituency has 27,544 registered voters.
Wajir West’s parliamentary seat fell vacant after the Supreme Court nullified Kolosh’s victory citing irregularities in one of the polling stations – Qara.
The by-election was marred by low voter turnout and Kenya Integrated Election Management System kits failure locking out potential voters. Kolosh, in his acceptance speech asked his competitor to join him in building the northern frontier county.
“I want to assure the people of Wajir West that this constituency will be one. We will work together for the benefit of the people of Wajir West,” Kolosh said. Ibrahim conceded defeat and wished Kolosh well while serving the residents of the Wajir West.
“The people of Wajir West have spoken. I would like to congratulate Kolosh and wish him all the best in his endeavours as the MP-elect for Wajir West and I call upon my supporters to keep the peace and work with him,” he said.
