EVERY EFFORT was made to ensure that controversial former MP Simon Mbugua did not win the PNU nomination for the Kamukunji by-election. The former second hand clothes hawker, who still owns stalls in Gikomba Market, was floored by an ODM-K nominee in a joint nomination conducted at the Bomas of Kenya on Thursday.
Prominent party members posing as his friends promised to support him but behind the scenes masterminded a plan to edge him out.“Nobody wanted this man. In fact there is no one interested in Mbugua here,” said an MP associated with a PNU senior alliance politician. Former journalist Yusuf Hassan Abdi won with 460 votes against Mbugua’s 345. Now Mbugua’s supporters are afraid his name will not be on the ballot in the May 23 election.
The IIEC chairman Ahmed Issack Hassan announced nomination papers for Kamukunji are to be received this Tuesday and Wednesday.“We have finalized plans for the reception of the nomination papers which will begin on April 26 that is Tuesday,” Ahmed said.
Yesterday Mbugua said he is weighing his options and will make an announcement to his supporters by Monday. Those close to him revealed that Mbugua wants to go to either Safina or Kanu, or possibly support another candidate against the PNU nominee. A top IIEC official said flaws in the Political Parties Act would make it difficult to stop Mbugua switching to another party.
Mbugua complained about the poll, “They outrightly rigged me out. They failed to listen to the issues we raised and delegates were being openly paid Sh2,000 to run away from me. That was not an election.”
The former MP accuses the entire PNU leadership of letting him down.“Kalonzo Musyoka, Kiraitu Murungi, Jamleck Kamau, George Nyamweya, Jeremiah Kioni, Johnstone Muthama, all these people ganged up against me,” Mbugua said.
Vice-President Kalonzo is the leader of ODM-K under whose ticket Yusuf Hassan will stand for the Kamukunji seat. Mbugua has been publicly critical of Kalonzo in political rallies and press conferences. Kamau and Nyamweya are the party vice chairmen while Kioni is deputy secretary-general.
Mbugua criticised Kioni’s bid to take over as Government Joint Chief Whip when the seat fell vacant on the ouster of George Thuo from Parliament through a petition filed by William Kabogo.
Two weeks ago PNU Chief Whip Johnstone Muthama claimed that youth supporters of Mbugua attacked him at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport the Monday morning when Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto were returning from the Hague.But Mbugua has dismissed the claims and instructed his lawyers to sue the Kangundo MP.
Kioni, Kamau and Nyamweya denied any conspiracy against Mbugua and declared the elections held on Thursday were free anf fair.“We have nothing against any candidate. We just want a process that is acceptable to all our affiliate members as well," Kamau said.
Nyamweya said that Mbugua helped organise the collegiate elections.“He was part of the whole process. We met him and several other candidates so many times to plan it. He cannot run away from it,” Nyamweya said.He denied there were pre-election plans to rig Mbugua out of the PNU nomination.
However the top PNU leadership were reportedly uncomfortable with Mbugua.“He had too many enemies who posed to him as friends. He was just like a chicken who thought anybody dropping grains was friendly. Finally they caught him,” said another PNU lawmaker.
Nominated MP Mohamed Affey called on Mbugua to support the winner Yusuf. Brian Weke has secured the Narc-K ticket for Kamukunji. “I grew up here before I became a matatu tout on the Buru Buru route. Later I was employed as a driver. I understand the needs of the people of the Eastlands. I have the ingredients required to become the Kamukunji MP,” Weke said. Ibrahim Ahmed Jonnie, who like Mbugua and Weke grew up in the Eastlands, has secured the ODM ticket.
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