Professor Peter Anyanga Nyong’o has been elected governor of Kisumu County on the platform of the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition party.
Nyong’o is the Father of Mexico-born, Oscar-award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o. The college-professor-turned-politician won 63 percent of the votes, defeating his rivals Jackton Ramguma and Christine Otieno, according to Sahara Reporters.
Mr. Nyong’o garnered 252,490 votes, Ramguma received 141,320 votes that represents 36 percent of voters, and Otieno earned 1,919, which is less than 1 percent of the votes.
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Kisumu, in southwestern Kenya, is the stronghold of the NASA party whose presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga challenged incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta in Tuesday’s presidential elections.
An Accomplished Career
Peter Nyong’o and his wife, Dorothy. Photo credit: HEZRON NJOROGE
Professor Nyong’o is a graduate of Makerere University in Uganda, where he earned a first degree (1st class) in Political Science. He then proceeded to the United States for his graduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Chicago, obtaining his Master’s and Ph.D. also in Political Science.
He later moved to Mexico, spending three years as a visiting lecturer at El Colegio de México, where Lupita was born.
In 1984, Professor Nyong’o returned to Kenya with his family and took up a teaching position at the University of Nairobi. He later got involved in politics and served as a nominated MP between 1998 and 2002.
In 2013, Nyong’o was elected to represent Kisumu County in the Kenyan Senate. Previously, he represented Kisimu Rural Constituency in the Kenyan National Assembly.
Nyong’o also variously served as Kenyan Minister for Medical Services and Minister for Planning & National Development.
