Supporters of Kamukunji parliamentary seat by-election aspirant Ibrahim Ahmed cheer during his campaign. The High Court on May 20,2011 stopped the Kamukunji by-election that was slated for for Monday May 23.
By CASPER WAITHAKA cwaithaka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, May 29 2011 at 21:41
Posted Sunday, May 29 2011 at 21:41
A blame game between the Party of National Unity and the Orange Party aspirants has erupted over the court case that saw the Kamukunji elections postponed.
ODM candidate Ibrahim Ahmed has been traversing the constituency claiming that PNU was behind the case, a claim that PNU’s Yusuf Hassan denies saying it was a judicial decision.
“The petitioner, Mr Paul Waweru, was refused to vie by IIEC among other reasons for he was a member of PNU. That is a well known fact,” said Mr Ahmed, popularly known as Johnny.
Mr Hassan admits this saying the petitioner broke electoral law and the Political Parties Act by failing to resign from PNU before the deadline.
However, he says the petitioner had lost during the nominations and was not working in cahoots with him at all.
“Those claims are outrageous and incorrect,” said Mr Hassan. “This is propaganda from a camp that was losing in the polls.”
The two are seen as the frontrunners in the race which has also attracted five others including Mr Brian Weke of Narc-Kenya, Ms Muthoni Kihara of GNU and Mr Mwaura Waihiga of Agano.
High Court judge Daniel Musinga temporarily halted the by-election until a petition filed by Mr Waweru of National Vision Party is heard and determined.
Mr Waweru challenged the legality of nominations conducted by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission and returning officer Joseph Masindet on April 27 and 28.
Earlier, Mr Hassan said the stopping of the election was a major blow to his camp, adding that he was far ahead and the voters were ready for the poll.
“The momentum has slowed down. I am now urging voters to be alert and wait for the new date,” he said.
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