The chairman elect of Nzoia County Council Cllr Fred Kwanusu speaking to journalists in his new office after the lections. [PHOTO|Leonard Wamalwa|West Fm]

Elections for the new chairman for Nzoia County Council ended peacefully with the councilors electing Kwanza Ward civic leader Mr. Fred Kwanusu as the new chairman to take over the seat that was left vacant a few months ago following the death of the then chair Mr. Samson Bunyasi.

Contrary to anticipation of physical confrontations between the councilors from two different camps that prompted beefing up of security, the exercise did not register any incidents of indiscipline or violence like in previous elections.

Mr. Kwanusu emerged winner after beating his opponent Mr. Reuben Mudagala by 21 votes against 14 out of the 35 votes cast by the councilors.

“I am very much grateful for having been elected as chairman of this council and I want to assure that I will use my position to unite all the communities in the County and ensure equitable distribution of the resources in the area. I therefore urge fellow councilors and other leaders to join me so that we work together for the benefit of our County,” Kwanusu told journalists in his new office after the elections.

During the elections councilor Albert Chepkwony retained his vice chairmanship while the chairmen of different committees were elected un-opposed after being proposed.

Councilor Peter Wekesa of Nabiswa retained his seat of Finance chairman as Stephen Njoroge of Makutano ward became the Town Planning chairman. 

A section of the councilors and their supporters celebrating at the council grounds after the end of the elections.

Others were Joseph Tirkoy of Endebes as chairman for Education, Peter Makaya of Mupere ward for Transport committee, Herman Malavi of Kaisagat for Environment as Samwel Ng’eny became the Audit chairman.

Hijacking of councilor

In a rare happening one of the councilors who was among those expected to vie for the chairmanship was hijacked in a controversial manner as he drove to Kitale from Eldoret where he had been camping before the elections with other leaders. 

Speaking to West FM shortly after the completion of the exercise, councilor Andrew Kutitila of Sikhendu ward said that a gang of people blocked his vehicle and bundled him out and whisked him away.

“They were in two salon vehicles and armed with a gun which they pointed at me saying that they wanted me because they didn’t want me to become chairman of the council,” Kutitila told journalists.

He said that the gang bundled him in the boot of their vehicle and moved around with him until they dumped him near River Nzoia around Moisbridge area where he later found his way back to Kitale only to find the elections are over.

Kutitila who had decamped from his initial camp that was in Malaba in Busia County before entering the Eldoret camp claimed that the thugs had beaten him and robbed him over Kshs 40,000 cash money.

He claimed that despite his hijackers being hooded, they later unhooded themselves after dumping him and added that he can identify them if they are paraded.