Karanja Kariri Njama (born 1969) is a Kenyan politician who was the Jubilee Party candidate for Kiambaa Constituency in the 2021 parliamentary by-election.
Early life and education
Karanja Kariri Njama was born in 1969. His name appears in official electoral records as Wainaina, Karanja Kariri Njama.
Njama attended the University of Nairobi. He graduated from the university in December 2021. The university's 66th graduation booklet lists NJAMA, Karanja among the graduates of the Faculty of Arts under the Bachelor of Arts programme. The list places him within the section for Second Class Honours (Upper Division).
Political career
2017 Kiambaa parliamentary contest
Njama entered electoral politics through the Jubilee Party nomination contest for the Kiambaa Constituency parliamentary seat in 2017. People Daily reported that he received approximately 11,500 votes in the Jubilee Party nominations, compared with about 16,000 votes for the late Paul Koinange. Njama subsequently contested the general election as an independent candidate and received approximately 15,000 votes, while Koinange won the seat.
The Star's 2017 election results record shows that Njama received 15,505 votes as an independent candidate, while Paul Koinange received 60,166 votes.
2021 Kiambaa parliamentary by-election
Njama entered the 2021 Kiambaa Constituency parliamentary by-election following the death of the sitting Member of Parliament, Paul Koinange, on 31 March 2021.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission listed Wainaina Karanja Kariri Njama among the persons scheduled to participate in the Jubilee Party primary for Member of the National Assembly for Kiambaa Constituency in May 2021.
Following the nomination process, the Jubilee Party selected Karanja Kariri Njama as its candidate for the Kiambaa by-election. People Daily reported on 22 May 2021 that Njama had been nominated as the Jubilee candidate.
The Kenya Gazette published on 8 June 2021 formally listed Njama Wainaina as the surname and Karanja Kariri as the other names of the Jubilee Party candidate for Kiambaa Constituency.
The by-election was held on 15 July 2021. Njama contested the seat against John Njuguna Wanjiku and other candidates. Wanjiku won the election with 21,773 votes, while Njama received 21,263 votes, a margin of 510 votes.
Following the announcement of the results, Njama said that he would challenge the outcome in court, alleging that the election was not free and fair. People Daily reported that he said his lawyers were preparing to file the case.
Electoral history
+ Electoral history Year Election Constituency Party Result 2017 Kenyan general election Kiambaa Constituency Independent Lost 2021 Kiambaa parliamentary by-election Kiambaa Constituency Jubilee Party Lost
References