By NATION CORRESPONDENTS
Posted Tuesday, July 12 2011 at 21:10
Posted Tuesday, July 12 2011 at 21:10
Central Kenya leaders have been accused of interfering with council elections in Nakuru.
A section of councillors condemned a meeting hosted by former Cabinet minister Njenga Karume on Monday, saying it was trying to influence the outcome of the civic elections scheduled for Friday.
The meeting took place at Lake Elementaita Lodge in Gilgil. The councillors, led by Nakuru county council finance committee chairman Paul Chebor, said such campaigns by Central Province leaders were likely to evoke ethnic tensions in Nakuru County.
Some 39 councillors attended the retreat. Those at the meeting claimed that they were summoned by Mr Karume to ensure PNU councillors voted as a bloc and fielded a single candidate.
However, the candidates who included chairman John Murigu and Mr Heze Kariuki failed to agree on who would be the party’s flagbearer.
The leaders resolved to pick a candidate through secret ballot. Mr Kariuki is said to have garnered 23 votes against Mr Murigu’s 16.
Campaigns for the county council chairmanship have been marked by confrontations.
On Sunday, councillor Geoffrey Gichuhi nearly fought with Molo MP Joseph Kiuna, accusing the legislator of not being objective in the campaigns.
Mr Gichuhi had confronted the MP at a hotel where he was talking with another councillor. The Nakuru mayoral elections will be held August 4.
Based on performance
Speaking to the Nation by telephone, town clerk Kaio Mbulusi said the date was chosen by council members.
The battle for the mayoral seat is between incumbent John Kitilit of ODM and PNU’s Zack Njeru.
Mr Kitilit’s campaign is based on his performance. He says that the council had grown under him.
He also cites new and rehabilitated roads linking Nakuru town and its suburbs as his achievements.
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