Allegations of vote-buying and voter bribery marked Monday’s by-elections in the vast and densely populated Juja constituency, where more than 180,000 voters are registered.
There was also the traditional low voter turnout in by-elections but most notable was the speed and efficiency at which voting was conducted.
Returning officer Bernard Kimani said reports of the bribery had been made to the Interim Independent Electoral Commission and would be investigated and action taken against the offenders.
“The allegations are serious and we are taking the necessary steps in consultation with security agents,” he said when reached on the phone at about 2.00 p.m.
Mr Kabogo and Ms Ng’ang’a also called for the arrest of those bribing voters, claiming police were reluctant to do so, especially at Kimuchu Primary School in Thika Town.
Former MP William Kabogo claimed there had been bribery and vote-buying by his opponents at Kimuchu, Gachororo, Witeithie, Kameno, Mwiki and Ruiru polling centres.
Alice Ng’ang’a, the Kenya National Congress candidate, also claimed her agents had reported similar incidents.
Most areas reported few hitches but low turnouts in the morning hours but there was optimism that workers would be given some time off in the afternoon.
A few voters at St George’s Primary School in Ruiru, Thika Municipal Stadium and at Mwiki discovered their names were missing from the register.
Interim Independent Electoral Commission official Davies Chirchir however said their issues had been sorted and those who were eligible and genuinely registered were allowed to go ahead and vote.
IIEC staff were also equipped with UV light torches, which were used to verify the validity of the voters’ cards. Their names were also put down in a temporary register for further verification after voting.
There were no queues at Thiririka Primary School when the Nation went there at about 8.30 a.m. and an official said it was a far cry from what was seen at the referendum.
By that time, he said, less than 60 people in a stream of 600 had cast their votes, and there were doubts all 6,000 registered there would turn up.
At the stadium, which is the second largest polling centre in the constituency with more than 9,000 registered to vote there, there were also no queues.
But at the remote Nyacaba Primary, located in a dusty zone in the middle of vast stone quarries, James Nzomo, the deputy supervisor, told the Nation the turnout was impressive.
“Voters here are very enthusiastic. There were people lined up here at 5 a.m. and we had to beg them to be patient,” said Mr Nzomo. Each candidate however expressed optimism that they would capture the seat that fell vacant after Mr Kabogo’s successful petition against George Thuo’s election in 2007.
Mr Thuo said the apparent low turnout by the time he voted at 10.20 a.m. at the Thika Municipal Stadium could have given a false impression as it appeared the same at the August 4 referendum on the constitution.
“It’s difficult to tell about the turnout because I have called my agents, they say there are no queues and I think it’s taking two to three minutes to vote,” said Mr Thuo.
Mr Kabogo, who voted at 11.30 a.m. at St George’s Primary School near Ruiru town, said he was impressed by the efficiency and speed of the process.
He blamed the low turn-out on the fact that it was a working day and that some employers were reluctant to release workers to go and vote.
“Juja is the gateway to Central Province and whoever wins here is usually seen to be a very influential person. That’s why political heavyweights seem to have a keen interest in the outcome of the election,” said Mr Kabogo.
Ms Ng’ang’a, who voted at about 1.30 p.m. at Nyacaba Primary in Juja Division, said she would accept the verdict of the people if the election is fair.
“I have done my part and it is upon the voters to decide who becomes their MP. I am confident of winning,” she said.
Juja has a combination of remote and sparsely populated areas such as Nyacaba in Juja Division and the metropolitan centres of Thika, Githurai and Ruiru towns, which are densely populated.
It also has a large population of workers in the flower farms of Juja and Thika, those who earn their bread at the industries in Thika and the manual labourers who work in quarries in the Juja area.
There has also been the perception that it is a battle of the wealthy and influential personalities who also contested the vote at the last General Election.
These are business magnates Mr Kabogo and Ms Ng’ang’a, with former Government Chief Whip George Thuo, who has shares in City Hoppa, the Nairobi urban transport company.
Other candidates were Stephen Ndicho (Agano Party), Charles Muchai (Democratic Party), Jackson Ngoima (National Alliance Party of Kenya), Dick Githaiga (ODM), Francis Gaitho (Safina) and David Kigwe (Farmers Party).
Mary Kirika of ODM-Kenya threw in the towel at the eleventh hour and said she was supporting Mr Thuo.
The IIEC has employed 1,200 polling clerks and some 600 presiding and deputy presiding officers. In addition, each of the 69 polling centres has a supervisor coordinating the election officials.
Among those who voted on Monday was Esther Wanjiru Ngwiri, 108, a Mau Mau veteran who has participated in virtually every election since independence.
Source: Daily Nation
Comments