Being the second elections under the new constitution, Kenyans are expected to elect six leaders: A governor, Senator, Women Representative, Member of Parliament, Member of County Assembly and the President
By Njeri Kimani, editorial@alleastafrica.com
NAIROBI – As curtains close on the recent nominations Kenyans are yet to come to terms with the drama that accompanied the fight to get party tickets.
They were marred with Cases of kidnap, assault and attempted assassination instilling fear that the situation could get worse during the next general elections
This has been greatly experienced in the ruling party Jubilee party (JP) and the main Opposition party Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) strongholds creating a notion that the nominations were more serious that the august general elections.
Being the second elections under the new constitution, Kenyans are expected to elect six leaders: A governor, Senator, Women Representative, Member of Parliament, Member of County Assembly and the President.
Perhaps in a bid to get sympathy votes Nominated MP IsaacMwaura survived an assassination attempt after his car was sprayed with bullets by unknown gunmen. He however escaped with a bullet bruise in his ear and later blamed his close competitor Simon King’ara accusing him of planning and instituting the attack.
In Kabete two aspirants were kidnaped a few days to the nomination.
Kabete MP Aspirant Charles Chege aka Fresh went missing with his Toyota Prado found in Muthiga area near a dam with two bullet marks on the back-leftdoor. Three days later he was found in Narok unscathed by residents.
Two days later, a MCA aspirant Kennedy Kinyanjui went missing and his vehicle were found abandoned by the roadside. Barely 24 hours later Ken Kuley, an aspirant went missing with his vandalized Subaru foresterfound vandalized on the Kebenet-Soundu road.
A video of Keeses MP Aspirant SwarrupMirsha, who claims he was attacked by rowdy youths walking unscathed hit social media pages, indicating that his stunt to accuse the competitor of organizing the assault. He had uploaded photos of him lyinghelplessly in hospital breathing from an oxygen mask and wearing a neck brace.
In Rongo, hired goons attacked a training session for ODM clerks, beating up youths with machetes and other crude weapons. The youth were associated with Rongo MP DalmasOtieno.
But the anger became evident when the Jubilee primaries were cancelled on 21st April.
Frustrated Kenyans took to the streets after queueing for hours waiting to cast their votes after party secretary general Raphael Tuju issued a press conference saying that they had underestimated the number of voters.
Disordered scenes flawed the nominations with claims of rigging and remarking of ballot papers sparking in fights between aspirants.
The Youth ended up setting the ballot papers on fire after barricading all the major roads. Police had to use tear gas to disperse the irate supporters.
In Mukurweni in Central Kenya a suspect was arrested after he was found in possession of pre-marked ballot papers in favor of a gubernatorial, senatorial and a member of Parliament aspirants.
Chaos in Nakuru, Nyeri, Embu and Meru emerged as materials arrived late in polling stations and when the papers arrived they were too few to cater for the number of people who had arrived to vote. InKerugoya, angry voters forced their way into the polling stations and vandalized their ballot boxes, school desks and windows.
Perhaps the nominations portrayed the country that was not ready to go to the elections in the second general elections after getting a new constitution.
Joseph Ngugi pointed out that the lack of the minimum basics for someone vying for posts was what had led to many aspirants seeking even minute seats.
“Many have proven that they would do anything to get that seat, including engaging in unnecessary wars,” he added
Shiko Kihika, the CEO of #TribelessYouthdemanded parties to bar candidates responsible for the blood bath and kidnaps from vying.
“They should never go unpunished. It is the loopholes in the systems that allow them to fight and harm each other. That alone is the basis for stopping blood bath during the general elections.,” she added.
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