Jubilee Party Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Amos Kamunya was ejected out of one of the polling stations as voting continues in the volatile exercise in Kiambaa by-elections.
Kimunya was accused of interfering with the voting exercise by a group of rowdy youths at Kimuga Polling Station who ordered him to leave the venue.
The angry residents claimed that Kimunya was not a voter nor an agent in the by-election as they shouted “Kimunya must go”.
Kimunya said that those are goons hired by competition adding that they wanted to influence voters.
“They want to influence them. But I am officially here as an agent with my name at the IEBC. I have been here since 6 am and It has been peaceful. Why should I leave? I am here to represent my party,” he said.
Kimunya showed his credentials saying that he was an agent and he has cleared with the presiding officer.
However, the crowd maintained that they will not vote until Kimunya leaves.
He was escorted out of the centre by GSU officers, sparking celebration from the youths.
The voting exercise kicked off today at 6:20 am and will continue throughout the day.
Kiambaa parliamentary by-election has attracted 96,000 registered voters spread out in 154 polling stations.
The by-election was prompted by the death of Paul Koinange who was serving his second term after being elected in 2013 and 2017.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared that the
exercise will be conducted under strict Covid-19 protocols.
The commission warned candidates they could be disqualified if they break election rules.
The provincial administration also deployed hundreds of police officers in the densely populated constituency to ensure voting goes peacefully.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is backing his Jubilee Party candidate for Kiambaa Kariri Njama, who is running against Ruto allied United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate John Njuguna Wanjiku.
In Muguga ward, Jubilee’s Githinji Mung’ara will battle it out with UDA’s Kamau Thumbi.