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Vetaran Naomi Shaban Defeated In Taita Taveta MP Race

SK 2 years ago 2 min read

Naomi Shaban, a seasoned lawmaker, has accepted defeat in the Taita Taveta MP election.

Ms. Shaban, who has served as the representative for the coastal constituency for 20 years and was running for reelection on behalf of the Jubilee Party, conceded defeat to John Bwire Okano of the Wiper Party.

As of Wednesday morning, Okano was leading based on provisional results and Shaban issued an early congratulatory message to him.

The 58-year-old veteran MP expressed her acceptance of the Taita Taveta people’s desire for new leadership in a social media post and praised Okano and his team.

“Good people, there is time for everything. Well done team Bwire,” Shaban told her supporters in a message shared on a WhatsApp forum.

The veteran politician added: “Thank you for giving me a chance to serve you for 20 years. My young brother Okano, I congratulate you.”

Young Mombasa-based attorney Okano is running for the parliamentary seat for the first time.

Shaban first entered the national assembly in 2002, when she was elected as the first female member of parliament for Taita Taveta on the platform of the Kenya African National Union (KANU).

She was re-elected through KANU in 2007 and served a second term under President Mwai Kibaki before running for re-election in 2013 on the ticket of the National Alliance Party (TNA).

Shaban served two terms in the Jubilee administration of President Uhuru Kenyatta after winning re-election in the 2017 general election, despite allegations of fraud by her bitter rival, Morris Mutiso.

Shaban has previously held a position in the government, initially as the Minister of State for Special Programs from 2008 to 2010.

In August 2010, she was moved into the Gender and Children Affairs docket by President Mwai Kibaki.

Shaban serves as President Kenyatta’s deputy in the ruling Jubilee party, where she is in charge of outreach initiatives.

The parliamentary results for Taita Taveta are anticipated to be made public by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Wednesday.

Moris Mutiso of the ODM party, Didas Mzirai of the UDA, and independent candidate Gaudenzio Muutu are all vying to unseat her.