The ruling Jubilee party has retained the Taita Taveta's Mahoo Ward seat following a by-election held on Thursday, December 16.
Jubilee candidate Donald Fundi trounced UDA's Daniel Matuku after garnering 1609 (51 percent) to 1358 (46 percent) votes.
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo's Tujibebe Party candidate Samuel Mochiemo became a distant third with 89 (3 percent) votes.
The Jubilee victory is a big loss to Deputy President William Ruto who was keen to prove his party's political prowess in Taita Taveta County.
Matuku received the backing and financial muscle of the DP in a bid to stage a spirited campaign.
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Despite being elected on a Jubilee party ticket, the DP has been associating himself with the UDA party on whose ticket he aims to use to vie for the presidency in the 2022 elections.
The by-election saw the ODM party rally behind the Jubilee candidate in solidarity with the Handshake deal between the ODM Leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja, Raila's ardent stalwart, and Taveta MP Naomi Shaban spearheaded the campaigns on behalf of the Handshake team.
"Mahoo Ward is a cosmopolitan region. We are going to work together regardless of tribe or whether one voted for me or not. The focus now is on delivering services," Fundi said in his victory speech.
The by-election was occasioned by the death of former officeholder Ronald Sagurani on August 17, due to Covid-19.
The late Sagurani served as the minority leader of the Taita Taveta County Assembly until his death.
