Monday, July 12, 2010

Man shot by-election begins

Matuga constituents are currently voting to elect their representative in Parliament.

The residents Monday morning turned up at the 101 polling centres that opened at 6am to cast their votes.

Four candidates, Chirau Ali Mwakwere of PNU, ODM's Hassan Mwanyoha, United Democratic Movement's Kassim Tandaza and Labour Party of Kenya candidate Isaac Mutula are battling it out for the seat.

Voters in the urban centers seem to have decided to cast their votes early compared to those in the rural areas. By 8.30 most voting stations around Kwale town were inching towards the 200 voters mark.

In the rural areas voters who had cast their votes had barely reached 150 which indicated that the turn out would be higher later in the day.

Kwale Town hall polling center that has 664 registered voters had already had 180 voters cast their votes by 8.30 while less than 150 people had cast their votes in Ziwani Primary School which has 704 registered voters.

Presiding Officers said that the biggest challenge they are encountering is of illiterate voters who all need to be assisted.

A Kenya Commission for Human Rights Commissioner Hassan Omar, who is an election observer, said that it was peaceful in all the polling stations he had visited.

The commissioner said that although there had been reports of disturbing incidences reported in the area he had faith that the area which is traditionally calm would have a peaceful voting period.

Tension is high in the area after a former Malindi councillor was shot and his four-wheel car set ablaze by unknown people.

The civic leader who was shot in the leg was rushed to Palm beach hospital.

Another councillor is reportedly missing after he was attacked at Shimba hills.

According to Kwale nominated Councillor Fatuma Salim, they were on their way to Kwale town when they were attacked.

The incident occurred at 2am at Kwale junction along the Likoni-Lungalunga road.

Kwale OCPD Richard Muguai confirmed the incident and said police had launched investigations into the incident. Security has been tightened following the incident.

Despite the attacks, Mwakwere who cast his vote at 9.30am at Ziwani primary school said he is hopeful that he will recapture the seat.

His opponent Hassan Mwanyoha voted at around 7.45am at Msufini in tiwi ward. Voting closes at 5pm.

The seat fell vacant after Mr Mwakwere lost an election petition filed by voter Juma Mwakwesi.

The election of Mr Mwakwere who was the Transport Minister was annulled after the High Court found that the 2007 election was marred by electoral irregularities.

No comments:

Post a Comment