Editor's Review

  • Wetangula has called out the alleged abuse of state machinery in Msambweni. 
  • ODM candidate was trounced by Ruto-backed independent candidate. 

Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula has hit out at the Handshake team in the wake of the just concluded Msawmbeni constituency by-election.

Through Twitter post, Wetangula stated that the win of independent candidate Feisal Abdalla Bader was proof that the voice of reason had triumphed over what he termed as recklessness and abuse of state apparatus.  

According to Wetangula, the government exhibited panic in the manner it handled the Mswambeni by-election. 

Notably, ODM candidate Omar Boga was supported by President Uhuru Kenyatta as the Handshake representative.  

"Congratulations Hon Feisal Abdalla Bader on your election as member of Parliament for Musambweni constituency. Reason has triumphed over abuses,insults, negative and unhelpful display of political bad manners. We must insist on good political hygiene," said Wetangula.  

"The Musambweni tension, bravado, abundant reckless abuses, obscenities and hate speech mitigated by the helpless state apparatus is a complete antithesis of the bridges of peace , harmony and tranquility that Kenyans are hoping for. We must/can do better !," he added.  

During the hotly contested polls, Bader trounced Boga by garnering 15,251 votes against Boga's 10,444 votes. 

Other candidates were Ali Hassan Mwakulonda (PED) - 107 votes, Charles Bambo Bilali (Independent)- 135, Sharlet Akinyi Onyango(Independent)- 18, and Mansury Kumaka Abdulrahman (Independent)- 38. 

The by-election came following the death of Suleiman Dori, and it was seen as a battle between DP William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga. 

Ruto threw his weight behind Feisal after the ruling Jubilee Party announced that it would not field a candidate.