MAGARA

The South Mugirango by-election will be held on June 10. But voters in Matuga constituency will have to wait a bit longer to vote for their next MP, the Interim Independent Electoral Commission chairman said on Friday.

IIEC chairman Issack Hassan said the Speaker was yet to issue writs for Matuga constituency so the electoral body could not fix a date for the by-election.

“The commission received the writs for South Mugirango on March 16 and according to the law, the by-election must be held within 90 days since that day. June 10 falls within the ninety day window,” Mr Issack said at a press conference.

The South Mugirango seat fell vacant after the Kisii High Court nullified the election of former Trade assistant minister James Omingo Magara citing irregularities. The petition was filed by Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, the Ford People candidate during the 2007 election.

The Matuga seat also fell vacant after the Mombasa High Court nullified the election of former Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere early last month, citing election anomalies as well.

Mr Isaack announced that political parties wishing to field candidates in the South Mugirango by-election must finalise their nominations by May 9 and hand in their nomination papers to the returning officer on May 17 or 18.

He also announced that the returning officer and his deputy would be Mr Bonventure Obongoya and Mr Jacob Mengo Mokua respectively.

Early campaigns have already kicked off in South Mugirango with potential candidates at the constituency to woo voters. Among those who have declared an interest in the seat besides Mr Magara include Mr Nyamweya, Mr Rashid Minyong’a, Mr Abaga Sagero, Mr Ibrahim Ochoi, and Mr Kepher Marube.

Others include Mr Henry Ogeto, Ombasa Apepo, Rosemary Obara, Gideon Moreka, David Kombo, Aungo Bw’Onderi, Mater Ondara, Mauti Sagwe, David Mogunde, and Ezekiel Okemwa.

Those seeking to clinch the ODM ticket include Mr Magara, Mr Ochoi and Mr Ogeto. Mr Nyamweya has indicated that he will gun for the seat on a Ford People ticket while Mr Minyong’a will run on a PNU ticket.

There have been calls by a section of ODM leaders led by Tourism Minister Najib Balala and Cherangani MP Joshua Kutuny that Mr Magara be given direct nomination given his status as the party’s national treasurer. But the director of elections, Mr Philip Okundi has insisted that the party will hold nominations in line with its constitution.

Meanwhile, the IIEC has registered 700,000 new voters since the exercise kicked off on Monday, Mr Issack announced. He however said the electoral body had encountered logistical challenges in some parts of the country owing to the heavy rains.

“We have experienced logistical challenges in Tana River, North Horr and Lodwar and we have been forced to hire helicopters at times to access some of these areas,” he said.