TNA nominations in Kangema delayed

TNA nominations in Kangema delayed as aspirants differ over register

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TNA supporters queue to vote at Kangema Social Hall during the party nominations August 15, 2012. The exercise was delayed for three hours after aspirants failed to agree on the registers to conduct the poll.   NATION MEDIA GROUP

By SAMUEL KARANJA 
Posted  Wednesday, August 15  2012 at  12:50

IN SUMMARY

• Aspirants disagree on register to use in carrying out nominations.
• Party had promised to use both TNA membership and IEBC registers.
• Voting starts after aspirants settle on the IEBC register.

The National Alliance (TNA) nominations in Kangema were delayed in some polling stations after candidates disagreed on the register to conduct the process.

Confusion reigned after it emerged that one register was missing leading to a heated debate among aspirants Muturi Kigano, Ann Kirima, Tirus Ngahu and Macharia Gatitu.

On Tuesday, the party had promised it would use its membership register and one from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)  but failed to do so.

A TNA party official, Kariuki Mate, said the TNA membership register could not be used as it had very few members.

“We can only use the IEBC register as our membership register has only 10,000 members and we feel these are very few,” he said.

He was supported by Mr Ngahu, Mrs Kirima and Mr Gatitu but Mr Kigano resisted the move saying the exercise was prone to rigging.

“This cannot happen, the party promised to use two registers even in our meeting with Uhuru (Kenyatta) and using only one register is equal to rigging,” said Mr Kigano at Kangema Social Hall as his supporters cheered.

Voting which was supposed to begin at 6:00 am was delayed in Nyakahura, Mugechi, Muguru, Gee Three, Kiahiti, Karugia, Kirika, Gacharaigu, Ihigai-ini, Kiarathe, Kahuti and Gitugu polling stations among others.

Chaos almost erupted after the angry voters confronted area DC Fred Muli for threatening to arrest Mr Kigano for allegedly attempting to "stop" voting.

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Mr Kigano also accused the provincial administration of interfering with the nomination exercise arguing that they were out to rig the results.

“On what grounds are you arresting me, these are not Kanu days when the government used to meddle with elections and intimidate voters and contestants,” Mr Kigano shouted at the DC and his security detail.

He said he was aware that the provincial administration was favouring a certain candidate.

The DC was forced to leave the venue immediately as angry supporters started heckling.

Mr Kigano’s supporters claimed that there were plans to rig the nominations after the presiding officer decided to change the nomination rules.

He asked voters to snub the exercise citing that the changes were introduced to rig the nominations.

However, voting started after aspirants settle on the IEBC register.

The seat fell vacant following the death of long-serving MP John Michuki.

The by-election is slated for September 17.