The National Electoral Commission (NEC) has announced the provisional results of the senatorial elections held across Rwanda’s four provinces and the City of Kigali on Monday, September 16. ALSO READ: Senate elections get underway with 32 candidates in the race The elections, which saw a voter turnout of 97.02%, were conducted for 12 senators who were elected from a total of 32 candidates. These candidates were elected by the national administrative entities, in accordance with constitutional guidelines. In Northern Province, there were three candidates. Laetitia Nyinawamwiza led the voting with 246 votes (73.00%), followed by Laetitia Rugira with 211 votes (62.61%). In Southern Province, seven candidates were in the race where Adrie Umuhire secured the most votes with 300 votes (70.42%), followed by Pelagie Uwera with 268 votes (62.91%) and Sosthène Cyitatire with 263 votes (61.74%). Umuhire and Uwera are both returning to the Upper House for a second term. Cyitatire is also not new in the House, having previously served as its clerk. Eastern Province had five candidates. John Bonds Bideri received the most votes with 317 (80.46%), followed by Alvera Mukabaramba with 301 votes (76.40%) and Fulgence Nsengiyumva with 270 votes (68.53%). All the successful candidates will be returning for the second stint. In Western Province, nine candidates competed for seats in the Senate. Marie Rose Mureshyankwano led with 286 votes (74.67%), followed by Emmanuel Havugimana with 266 votes (69.45%) and Cyprien Niyomugabo with 260 votes (67.88%). Similarly, the three were in the old senate. For the City of Kigali, four candidates vied for a single seat. Esperance Nyirasafari, who in the previous term served as a senate vice president, was re-elected with 55.26% of the votes. NEC also announced that the elections for the two representatives of institutions of higher learning will be held on Tuesday, September 17. Further details and the final results will be made available after additional verification by NEC.
