Parties tribunal stops PNU from issuing nomination certificates
The Political Parties Tribunal has temporarily stopped Party of National Unity (PNU) from issuing nomination certificates to candidates who won in the nomination in Embu county.
The tribunal issued the order after four MCA aspirants moved to court claiming the nominations were was not free and fair.
Dennis Mugendi, Jeremiah Mugambi, Patrick Mucira and Simon Njue told the tribunal that the returning officer allowed non-party members to vote including those who were handed party cards at the gate of polling stations to vote for a particular candidate.
The applicants claimed, the presiding officers arrived late and in other places did not show up until 5.30 pm hence many people did not vote.
They claimed that several names of MCAs aspirants were missing from the ballot papers despite being fully paid up members.
It was their argument that the presiding officers and the poling clerks were manifestly partisan which was obvious to the voters and aspirants.
According to them, the party list of members was not used at all.
“Where attempt to conduct party primaries, was made, people were issued with membership cards at the polling centers and all allowed to participate,” said the petitioners.
They also said despite submission of aspirants agents, they were excluded in critical moments of the polling process, for instance signing, sealing and transportation of the ballot boxes.
