2013 Nairobi local elections explained

Local elections were held in Nairobi County to elect a Governor and County Assembly on 4 March 2013.[1] Under the new constitution, which was passed in a 2010 referendum, the 2013 general election was the first where there would be election of County governors and their deputies for the 47 newly created counties. They were also the first general elections run by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) which has released the official list of candidates.[2] While it is not necessary to hold a degree to become e.g. president of the United States, a degree of a university recognised in Kenya is necessary to run for a gubernator seat.

Gubernatorial election

Candidate Running Mate Coalition Party Votes
4068
Independent 4539
Cord 692483
Cord 5162
Jubilee 5314
Ahmed IbrahimIbrahim, Ahmed N/A 52084
1725
Nyangangali, Crispus Fwamba 7490
3823
Jubilee 617839

Opinion Polling

Pollster Date Sample 1st2nd3rdOthers
Ipsos Synovate 2 – 5 Feb 2013 870 Evans Kidero
40%
Ferdinand Waititu
37%
Jimnah Mbaru
10%
Undecided 8%
Ipsos Synovate Dec 2012 Margaret Wanjiru
29%
Ferdinand Waititu
20%
Evans Kidero
15%
Jimnah Mbaru 11%

Prospective candidatures

The following politicians made public their intentions to run but did not run or failed to obtain nominations in their preferred political parties:[3]

Gakuo and Muriuki failed in the TNA nominations while Wanjiru was barred by her party due to questions over the validity of her university degree.[4]

Notes and References

  1. News: Kenya to hold polls in March 2013, says elections body. The Citizen. 18 March 2012. 2 September 2012. 5 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120705054620/http://thecitizen.co.tz/sunday-citizen/-/20754-kenya-to-hold-polls-in-march-2013-says-elections-body. dead.
  2. Web site: Nominated Candidates for the 4Th March, 2013 General Election . 2013-03-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130220195536/http://iebc.or.ke/index.php/media-center/press-releases/item/nominated-candidates-for-the-4th-march-2013?category_id=7 . 20 February 2013 .
  3. Web site: Council staff back Gakuo's Nairobi political bid » Capital News. 26 November 2012.
  4. News: SHITANDA, WANJIRU OUT OVER DEGREES. 20 January 2013. The Standard. 18 January 2013. 22 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130122041344/http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-103314/shitanda-wanjiru-out-over-degrees. dead.