Veteran Politician Naomi Shaban Concedes Defeat in Taita Taveta MP Race

Veteran politician Naomi Shaban has conceded defeat in the race for the Taita Taveta parliamentary seat.

Shaban, who has represented the constituency in Parliament for 20 years and was defending her seat on a Jubilee Party ticket, conceded to her competitor John Bwire Okano of the Wiper party.

“Good people, there is time for everything. Well done team Bwire. Thank you for giving me a chance to serve you for 20 years. My young brother Okano, I congratulate you,” Shaban said in a statement posted on social media.

On Wednesday, provisional results placed Okano, a youthful Mombasa-based attorney who is giving his first shot at the parliamentary seat, in the lead.

Shaban, 58, was first elected to the National Assembly in 2002 on a Kenya African National Union (KANU) party ticket, becoming the first female MP for Taita Taveta. She was subsequently reelected in 2007, 2013, and 2017 under KANU, National Alliance Party (TNA), and Jubilee Party respectively.

Shaban also served as the Minister of State for Special Programmes from 2008 to 2010 and Gender and Children Affairs Minister from August 2010.

In the ruling Jubilee party, Shaban serves as the deputy party leader in charge of outreach programs.

Other candidates in the Taita Taveta MP race include Moris Mutiso of the ODM party, Didas Mzirai of UDA, and independent candidate Gaudenzio Muutu.