Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Kethi registered ‘somewhere’ but not Makueni

By  | June 26, 2013

Party Chairman David Musila said that Kethi, who is vying on the party's ticket, did not have to be registered as a voter in Makueni County for her to seek the Senate seat/FILE
Party Chairman David Musila said that Kethi, who is vying on the party’s ticket, did not have to be registered as a voter in Makueni County for her to seek the Senate seat/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 26 – The Wiper Democratic Movement has now admitted that lawyer Kethi Kilonzo is not a registered voter in Makueni, but is listed ‘somewhere in Kenya’.
Party Chairman David Musila said that Kethi, who is vying on the party’s ticket, did not have to be registered as a voter in Makueni County for her to seek the Senate seat left vacant by her late father, Mutula Kilonzo.
Musila said that Kethi’s voter details including her place of registration will be revealed on Thursday, when she goes to Makueni County to seek clearance from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The party boss was reacting to claims by rivals in The National Alliance (TNA) that Kethi is not registered as a voter anywhere, and is therefore unqualified to participating in the race.
“Wait until tomorrow to know where exactly she is registered but she is registered somewhere in Kenya. I think TNA went to check the register at Makueni but the law just says you have to be a registered voter; not in a specific place,” he pointed out in the company of fellow Senators of the CORD alliance including Bungoma’s Moses Wetangula and Trans Nzoia’s Henry ole Ndiema.
Musila blasted TNA over the claims, accusing the party of panicking and smelling defeat ahead of the July 22 by-election.
“We want to challenge TNA to come and compete because we are going to thrash them and all that they are doing is as a result of panic because they know that that seat will go to Wiper. It is not their business to decide who is qualified or not qualified,” argued Musila.
Not being a voter in Makueni County means that Kethi will not be able to vote for herself.
Her candidacy had been shrouded in controversy when she first showed interest in the seat before pulling out even before the race started, after her step mother said she would vie for the seat.
Kethi at the time felt like she would be inviting a curse if she went head-to-head with her mother.
“A child does not compete with the mother. It is a curse,” she announced on Twitter on June 11.
She later resumed her quest after Nduku Kilonzo abruptly withdrew from the race.

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