Waititu faces voters’ wrath in bribe attempt

By Geoffrey Mosoku and Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: Nairobi County governor candidate on TNA ticket Ferdinand Waititu was on Tuesday evening roughed up by a group of irate youths while on campaign trail in Nairobi’s Kenyatta Market area.

A TNA team which was made up of Waititu, senate candidate Gideon Mbuvi Sonko and women representative Rachael Shebesh were apparently dishing out money in the area.

Waititu was left with a torn shirt while Sonko allegedly lost bling bling and “golden rings” in the fracas when the youths became agitated after they missed money that they were dishing out.

Sonko was indoors in a hall where he was allegedly giving out 500 shillings each as Waititu and Shebesh manned the entrance to the building.

The trio had attracted a crowd at a hall at the market where they were meeting youth groups and were almost leaving when some of the supporters who had missed out on the money confronted Waititu demanding a share.

Witnesses said he dished out cash to a sizeable crowd but ran out of the same mid-way. This prompted some of the youth to push forward to where he was eager to get part of the money causing a scuffle.

As the situation worsened, Sonko used a rear door of a room to escape as Waititu was seen throwing punches to the angry mob in a bid to escape to safety.

A witness said he saw Sonko duck out of the room after their security were overwhelmed by the crowd that was demanding more money from him.

“He lost his chains and some of the rings that he puts on, to the youth. I saw Waititu emerge with a torn shirt and were driven out of the scene in a hurry,” said a witness.

Another witness said TNA youths later threatened to beat up The Standard photographer, Eugene Mokua who wanted to take their pictures after the incident in fear of them being used by the electoral body for punishment.

Electoral offence

Kilimani OCPD Bernard Muli said the incident had not been reported to them. He added the politicians did not even alert them they were on campaign trail to the area.

“These politicians usually do not inform us whenever they are on such missions and they can turn ugly to them. We are left chasing after them, which is wrong,” said Muli.

The three now may be barred from contesting if the electoral body and police investigate the voter bribery incident, which is not only an electoral offence but also criminal in nature according to police.

Section 106 Election Act, 2011 prohibits bribery by candidates on voters and can lead to action from the Independence Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said his officers will take action if and when they find evidence on the incident and any other election related offences.

He said he had talked to the Chief Justice Willy Mutunga who promised courts are ready to dispense such cases within three days.

In cases where suspects plead guilty, the cases will be determined within a day while those who plead not guilty, it will take three days to be determined.

“A suspect will be taken to court in the morning and be sentenced in the afternoon. The longest it can take is three days,” said Kimaiyo.

He warned politicians the Election Act is now operational and some of them may be barred from running even a day to the polls or serious action will be taken after the polls.