Published on December 29, 2007, 12:00 am
By Saturday Team It was the day the Cabinet was massacred. The Vice-President humiliated in a constituency contest, and the President trailing by a million votes in the national tally. Orange Democratic Movement candidate Mr Raila Odinga remained at the top of the charts throughout the night and the whole of Friday from the moment counting started.
Of the votes cast out of the possible 14.2 million registered, preliminary count gave Raila 3.3 million and Kibaki 2.3 million.
Raila opened a commanding lead in six of eight provinces and by last night some of his strongholds were yet to be tallied. ODM, Railas party, had secured 72 seats, PNU 18 and Kalonzos six.
With returns from 112 of 210 constituencies, slightly over 50 per cent of electoral areas, Raila had opened a 900,000 gap between him and President Kibaki.
Raila had polled 3, 268,571 votes against President Kibaki of PNU who had 2,278,355. Mr Kalonzo Musyoka of ODM-Kenya had a paltry 356,632.
The results were mainly without the tally from the populous Nairobi region where six of eight constituencies were yet to be included. Only Railas Langata constituency, and Kamukunji were complete with tension and chaos rocking the other constituencies over claims of attempts to rig.
President Kibaki strove to catch up, albeit with luck receding, as 16 of his ministers and allies, were red-carded.
Only four ministers had retained their seats by last evening: Mr Kiraitu Murungi (Energy), Ms Martha Karua (Justice), Mr Amos Kimunya (Finance), and Dr Noah Wekesa (Science and Technology).
Those who fell included Vice- President Moody Awori, Mr Simeon Nyachae (Roads) who led the Party of National Unity, and Mr David Mwiraria (Environment) whose travel visas the British cancelled a fortnight ago.
Also shoved to the sidelines, and who still bear the presidential flag, were: Ford-People leader Mr Musikari Kombo (Local Government), and his perennial warring partner Dr Mukhisa Kituyi (Trade).
Also defeated were Information minister Mr Mutahi Kagwe, Mr Kipruto arap Kirwa (Agriculture), Mr Joseph Munyao (Livestock), Mr Moses Akaranga (Mr Paul Sang (Health) Mr Mutua Katuku (Water), Mr Mohammed Abdi (Rural Development), Mr Morris Dzoro (Tourism), Mr Peter Njeru Ndwiga (Co-operatives), Dr Newton Kulundu (Labour), Mr Henry Obwocha (Planning), Njenga Karume (Defence), and Mr Raphael Tuju (Foreign).
As the sun set the political careers of Education minister Prof George Saitoti, (Defence), and Mr Ali Chirau Mwakwere, were on the tenterhook. Saitoti, claiming he was being rigged out, took his protest to the iron gates of Kenyatta International Conference, where the Electoral Commission has moved house. Disputes rocked counting in Karumes and Mr Maina Kamanda (Sports) constituencies.
There were also falls whose thuds reverberated countrywide particularly that of former powerful Cabinet minister, Kanu power-man and retired President Mois sidekick, Mr Nicholas Biwott.
New faces in politics Fondly referred to as Karnet (unwrought iron in Kalenjin), or Total Man, Biwott conceded defeat by a former sales advertising representative of a local newspaper, Mr Jackson Kiptanui. He, however, insisted he was the best bet for the seat up to two days ago when ODMs three-piece formula turned the tables against his party Kanu.
There was also the defeat of President Mois three sons Gideon, Jonathan and Raymond in Baringo Central, Eldama Ravine and Rongai.
Former Health minister Mrs Charity Ngilu swam against the ODM-Kenya/Kalonzo wave in Ukambani to win in Kitui Central. The Pentagon in ODM, comprising Raila, Mr William Ruto, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, and Mr Najib Balala reclaimed their parliamentary seat. But their colleague, Mr Joe Nyagah, lost the Gachoga seat to former General Secretary of National Council of Churches of Kenya, the Reverend Mutava Musyimi. Ndwiga lost to a matatu fleet manager Mr Emilio Kathuri, Nyachae Dr Monda.
Rift Valley turned around the place of women in politics by electing six. They are: Dr Sally Kosgey (ODM, Aldai), Prof Hellen Sambili (UDM, Mogotio), Prof Margaret Kamar (ODM, Eldoret East), Ms Lorna Laboso (ODM, Sotick), Ms Peris Chepchumba Kipsimam (ODM, Eldoret South), and Mrs Linah Jebii Kilimo (Kenda, Marakwet East).
Raila led in all provinces except Central and Eastern. In the tallies available for Nairobi, Raila had collected 146,205 votes followed closely by Kibaki who had 95,808. Kalonzo was third on 18,048.
In Coast Province Raila was also ahead on 151,023 votes. Kibaki was second with 83,087. Kalonzo had 11,816.
Raila also led by a wide margin in Nyanza Province, where he had 1,025,23. Kibaki was second with 67,151. Kalonzo trailed third on 1203. Kalonzo led in Eastern Province on 197,565 with Kibaki second on 8,0523. Raila was third with 26,564.
Raila led again in Western with 492,295 votes. Kibaki followed with 162,177 while Kalonzo was third with 4657.
Raila had also collected more than one million votes in Rift-Valley Province standing at 1,074,142. Kibaki was second on 426,984. Kalanzos votes were 30,939.
It was a close contest in North Eastern Province between Kibaki and Raila with the latter having a small lead on 46,646. Kibaki had 42,407. Kalonzo had 4,581.
Kibaki had taken a comfortable lead Central Province, garnering just well over one million votes to stand at 1,061,098. Raila had 13,938 and Kalonzo 6,430 votes.
Results were trickling in from across the country by the time of going to press with the edge of competition becoming clearer.
The preliminary result showed a record voter turn out, with over eight million of about 14 million registered voters expected to have voted.
By last night ODM had 72 parliamentary seats, PNU 18, ODM-Kenya six and Kanu five.
Lifted and published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.standard.ke
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