Wetangula’s Teacher Whips President Ruto’s Man in Bungoma Senate Race

Former teacher Ford Kenya’s Wafula Wakoli beat President William Ruto”s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate Mwambu Mabongas in the Bungoma Senatorial by-election held on Thursday, December 8^th, 2022.

According to the provisional results, Wakoli garnered 65,976 closely followed by Mabonga a  former Bumula Member of Parliament (MP) with 45,477 whereas ex-Kanduyi legislator Wafula Wamunyinyi of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) was in a distant third after managing 20,546. in a contest that succeeded 11 contestants.

Following Wakoli’s victory in the December 8, 2022 by-election, the Bungoma senatorial seat firmly remains in the hands of Ford-Kenya whose party leader is the immediate former Senator and Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula.

Wafula Wakoli, a former Kiswahili teacher at Milima Friends Secondary School, had been Wetangula’s personal assistant for more than ten years. He will be a first-time lawmaker upon taking the oath of office.

Wakoli will succeed Moses Wetangula who, on September 7, resigned from the senatorial position and successfully contested for the National Assembly Speaker seat, defeating former Speaker Kenneth Marende.

The other candidates in the race were Elias Barasa of People’s Empowerment Party and Enock Opara, Julius Masinde and Radon Munoko who are independent.

Others are Dr Fredrick Busolo of Vibrant Democracy Party, Aaron Wafula (Republican Liberty Party), Geofrey Barasa (National Ordinary People Empowerment Union) and Robert Sifuna (Roots Party of Kenya).

Below is how the candidates scored in each of the nine constituencies in Bungoma county.

*1* . *Bumula* Constituency.

Wakoli 5,451

Mwambu 13,810

wamunyinyi 3,145

*2*. *Kimilili* Constituency

Wakoli 6,341

Mwambu 2,981

Wamunyinyi 1,231

*3*. *Kabuchai* Constituency

Wakoli 11,728

Mwambu 2,824

Wamunyinyi 1,150

*4*. *Kanduyi* Constituency

Wakoli 11,423

Mwambu 4,339

Wamunyinyi 8,159

*5*. *Webuye East* Constituency

Wakoli 4,969

Mwambu 2,239

Wamunyinyi 1,653

*6*. *Mt. Elgon* Constituency

Wakoli 6,059

Mwambu 6,929

Wamunyinyi 573

*7*. *Sirisia* Constituency

Wakoli 4,198

Mwambu 3,497

Wamunyinyi 921

*8. Webuye West* Constituency

Wakoli 6,756

Mwambu 4,799

Wamunyinyi 1,321

*9. Tongaren* Constituency

Wakoli 9,051

Mwambu 4,057

Wamunyinyi 1,150

*FINAL TALLY*

WAFULA WAKOLI *65,976*

MWAMBU MABONGA *45,477*

WAFULA WAMUNYINYI *20,546*