It’s all systems go ahead of tomorrow’s four mini-polls
It’s all systems go as the national poll agency, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) deploys all logistical and personnel preparations ahead of the four mini-polls in Kandara and Garissa Township constituencies, Elgeyo Marakwet Senatorial race and the Shella’s Ward repeat polls in Lamu County respectively.
A show of political might has played out as the time-barred political campaigns entered homestretch days ago with political heavyweights appointed to the cabinet led by Defence and his Transport and Public Works counterpart Aden Duale and Kipchumba Murkomen respectively received harsh reception in their backyards seeking to endorse their successors.
Yesterday, in Elgeyo-Marakwet county, Murkomen was forced to withstand hostile crowds who openly heckled, jeered and booed him and interrupted his speech with shouts of “what honour? (Heshima gani)…nooo (Hakuna! Hakuna!) We won’t vote (Hatupigii)”.
In a viral video seen by The Informer, Murkomen is heard asking the residents to vote for the candidate, a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) flagbearer, the former Marakwet West legislator William Kisang, in honor of President William Ruto before they heckled him.
Some told the CS to go back to the office and focus on working on his post.
“Because he gave me the opportunity to serve you and to serve Kenya, in the respect of that President that has honored us, I humbly urge you to vote for UDA. (Kwa sababu alinipatia nafasi ya kutumikia nyinyi na kutumikia Kenya, kwa heshima ya huyo rais mwenye ametuheshimu, mimi naomba kwa unyenyekevu tupigie chama cha UDA kura). Murkomen said as he was shouted down.
Kisang will battle it out with his contenders; Jerotich Seii (Safina), Kevin Kiptoo (Independent), Tim Kipchumba (Party for Peace and Democracy), Mengich Kibiwott (Independent) and Timothy Tanui (The New Democrats).
And in Garissa county, Duale is fighting to retain the regional political kingpin tag but the UDA candidate, retired Major Mohamed Barrow Dekow, Duale’s in-law whom the CS openly rooted support for defying president Ruto’s orders against direct political involvement of CSs who is facing fierce contest from the Mandera Senator Ali Roba’s led United Democratic Movement (UDM) party candidate Nassir Mohamed Dolal alias Jofle.
If the UDA candidate is defeated, Duale will have lost the regional political mantle and influence within the Somali community.
And in Kandara constituency, Murang’a governor Irungu Kang’ata, Maragua Member of Parliament (MP) Mary Waithira and Muranga County Woman Representative Betty Marina rallied the residents to vote for Chege Njuguna as their next Member of Parliament.
Kang’ata said Njuguna is a vibrant leader who has huge potential and he will be able to deliver to the people of Kandara.
Others battling it out with Njuguna include; Kibiru PMG Junior vying on a Usawa Kwa Wote party ticket, Samuel Kioi (The New Democrats party), Tutus Njau (Ford Asili) Joseph Mbugua (JFP) while Pius Muiruri, David Kamweti and Erastus Gatehi are vying as independent candidates.
Njau shifted to Ford Asili after losing in the UDA party primaries, where he emerged second. The exercise has attracted 14 candidates.
Initially, the seat had attracted over 30 candidates, but a good number dropped their bids along the way.
Yesterday, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua waded in to the mini-polls battlefront calling for support in favour of UDA candidates in all the electoral seats.
“In the by-elections, our candidates Kisang William Kipkemoi (Senator, Elgeyo Marakwet County), Njuguna Chege (MP Kandara Constituency), Barrow Dekow Mohamed (MP Garissa Township Constituency), and Abduljabar Saamiya Mohamed (Shella Ward -Lamu County), will fly the UDA flag.” The DP said through a Twitter post on his personal handle.
