Wednesday, June 26, 2013

TNA in a panic over Kethi Kilonzo's candidature- Musila

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By ALPHONCE SHIUNDU 
Posted  Wednesday, June 26  2013 at  10:36
The Wiper Democratic Movement has said Kethi Kilonzo's candidature in next month's Makueni senatorial mini poll is causing jitters within the ranks of a rival party.
Wiper chairman David Musila said Wednesday The National Alliance (TNA) was running scared of Ms Kilonzo and had resorted to desperate measures.
He said TNA has "panicked" because of the popularity of Ms Kilonzo, who seeks to take over the senate seat following the death of her father, Mutula Kilonzo.
Mr Musila said the Wiper party had looked at all the laws about the eligibility of a candidate for elections, and it was convinced that Ms Kilonzo met all the requirements.
"We read article 83 of the Constitution very carefully and we are satisfied that Kethi is a registered voter and is qualified to be our candidate,” said Mr Musila during a news conference at the Senate Media Centre in Nairobi.
Article 83 of the Constitution is clear that a “person qualifies for registration as a voter at elections or referenda if the person— is an adult citizen; is not declared to be of unsound mind; and has not been convicted of an election offence during the preceding five years.”
"She is a registered voter somewhere in Kenya, but certainly not in Makueni. It is not the business of TNA to decide who is qualified and who is not. She is our candidate,” said Mr Musila.
Mr Musila said Wiper will be escorting Ms Kilonzo to present her papers tomorrow (Thursday) to the county returning officer at Wote, in Makueni County in readiness for the July 22 by-election.
He said IEBC was informed on June 5 that Ms Kilonzo was the candidate and the commission had not raised any qualms.
"Certainly, she’s not a registered voter at Utangwa AIC primary school (where her father was registered),” said Mr Musila, who was flanked by senators Moses Wetangula (Bungoma) and Henry Ndiema (Trans Nzoia).
Ms Kilonzo is reportedly registered in Woodley, Nairobi, according to the Wiper party’s spokesman Patrick Muthembwa.
“It has come to the attention of TNA that Ms Diana Kethi Kilonzo, the Wiper Democratic Party candidate for the Makueni County Senatorial by-election, is not a registered voter," the letter addressed to IEBC chairman Isaac Hassan reads in part.
"Our perusal of the voters register has confirmed that Ms Kilonzo does not appear on the roll, nor is there any voter registration for Kenya National Identity Card Number 21216762, which is Ms Kilonzo’s Kenya National Identity Card Number.
The party urged the IEBC to strictly apply the law and not bend to pressure.
"We are all too aware that the IEBC will no doubt come under intense pressure to sweep this issue under the rug from powerful undemocratic forces who have no respect for either the Constitution or the Rule of Law. However, the IEBC must remain steadfast and apply the law without fear or favour."
She will face off with former Kibwezi MP Philip Kaloki who will vie on the Jubilee Alliance ticket. 

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