United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate and Kenya Kwanza leader William Ruto is set to control the Senate after winning a majority of seats across the country in the recently concluded election, the results of which are still being counted.
DP Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance (KKA) has 24 senators, compared to 23 for Raila Odinga’s Azimio La Umoja One Kenya.
UDA won a majority of seats in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s political stronghold of Mt Kenya and Dr Ruto’s backyard of Rift Valley.
Dr. Ruto has also received one senator from each of the counties of Kakamega, Marsabit, and Tana River.
“It is now official; Kenya Kwanza controls the Senate. Thank you Kenyans for the trust,” Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen posted on his Twitter handle.
This is a decrease from Jubilee’s number after the 2017 General Election, when it claimed 27 of the 47 available senator seats, but it is assured of more nominated senator slots based on its performance in this election.
Unlike in the previous election, Mr Odinga’s party has increased its Senate numbers by two, from 20 to 22.
Dr. Ruto had expressed confidence before the election that he would control both the National Assembly and the Senate regardless of whether he won the presidency.
The UDA fielded 261 National Assembly candidates across the country, supplemented by candidates fielded by affiliate parties under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Dr. Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza allies, Musalia Mudavadi of the Amani National Congress (ANC) and Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya, had sponsored 71 and 34 National Assembly candidates, respectively.
UDA fielded 38 candidates for the 47 Senate seats. It also had 43 candidates running for county Woman Rep.
