Claims of rigging mar URP polls

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By NATION CORRESPONDENTS
Posted  Tuesday, September 4  2012 at  22:15

IN SUMMARY

• In Tharaka Nithi, the elections slated for the weekend failed to take place with some members claiming they were presented with a list of officials in spite of the aborted exercise.
• The elections pitting 60 delegates from Maara, Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe and Tharaka constituencies was to be held at Kathwana market but only 20 delegates from Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe allegedly took part in a parallel election.

Discontent has hit the United Republican Party in Meru, with members citing irregularities in recent elections.

In Tharaka Nithi, the elections slated for the weekend failed to take place with some members claiming they were presented with a list of officials in spite of the aborted exercise.

The elections pitting 60 delegates from Maara, Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe and Tharaka constituencies was to be held at Kathwana market but only 20 delegates from Chuka Igamba Ng’ombe allegedly took part in a parallel election.

On Tuesday, Tharaka chairman George Gichibu Makembo and his Maara counterpart Ann Njue said they were elected treasurer and party delegate, respectively in absentia.

Missing official

“We waited for the county elections coordinator Dickson Rucha to arrive at Kathwana but he never showed up. When I called him, he said he could not travel to the venue,” said Mr Makembo.

Ms Njue said she and her colleagues waited until 4pm before dispersing. “I was shocked to hear my name on radio as one of the county delegates,” she said.

However, Mr Rucha said the constituency chairmen agreed to nominate the 20 officials.

“Mr Makembo and Ms Njue brought their people for the elections: Maara brought six while Tharaka and Chuka-Igamba Ngomb’e brought seven each.

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"We were to draft a harmonised list. I was surprised to hear them denouncing a process they took part in,” Mr Rucha said on phone.