From TNA to ODM: The Political Evolution of Kajiado East

Kajiado East is not only a vibrant, multicultural, and cosmopolitan area but also a rapidly growing and highly diversified district of Kajiado County, located in central Kenya. Located within the broader Nairobi metropolitan area and bordering Machakos and Makueni counties to the northeast and the East, respectively, the constituency is about 20 kilometers from the center of Nairobi city. This fact makes it a very important satellite area of the capital.

Demographics Framework

Kajiado East has existed for the past ten years or so, and as of 2019, the Kenya Population and Housing Census put its population at 274,687. The constituency measures approximately 3,269 square kilometers.

MP Election Summary (2013–2022)

In the 2013 General Election, Peris Pesi Tobiko of the National Alliance (TNA) emerged victorious with 23,645 votes, narrowly defeating Kakuta Maimai Hamisi of ODM, who garnered 22,771 votes. The constituency recorded a high voter turnout of 83.01% with 71,516 registered voters.

During the 2017 General Election, Peris Pesi Tobiko, this time running under the Jubilee Party, retained the seat with 39,937 votes against Kakuta Maimai Hamisi’s 31,168 votes on the ODM ticket. Voter turnout stood at 65.4% out of 102,849 registered voters.

In the 2022 General Election, Kakuta Maimai Hamisi of ODM won the seat with 28,730 votes, defeating Mary Seneta Yiane of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), who received 20,047 votes. The turnout was 67.5% among 116,336 registered voters.

Current County Assembly Representation (2022–2027 Term)

Economic Role and Relevance

There can be very little doubt nowadays that Kajiado East has become one of the very engines of a new economic power, with its two most prominent towns, Kitengela and Oloosiekon/Sholinke districts, hosting most of the industrial activities in the country, including major cement factories such as East African Portland Cement and Savan Cement as well as steel mills and export processing zones. These establishments alone provide a large number of manufacturing and indirect jobs to people in the local area.

The proximity of Kajiado East to Nairobi has triggered a real estate development frenzy, particularly in areas such as Kitengela, Kaputhei-North and Isinya where a large amount of money has been poured into building not only residential but also commercial properties. These neighborhoods are now essentially places where Nairobi’s labor force comes to rest after work, providing the city’s residents with places to rent homes or offices in their respective townships.

Livestock rearing and farming are other sources of livelihood for the communities of Kenyawa Poka and Imaroro wards. They can supply the Nairobi metropolitan area with animal and dairy products as part of Nairobi’s local meat supply chain. 

On the other hand, they can increase their production with a very large investment, which will be made in flower production for the floriculture and horticulture sectors.

Broadly speaking, transport is also a major component of the economic role of Kajiado East. Namanga Highway, the main route connecting Kenya’s capital to its southern neighbor, Tanzania, cuts through the district. 

Also, an SGR station at Athi River/Kitengela is a key factor in the economic development and commercial expansion of this region relative to the rest of East Africa.

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