Narc Kenya blames voter bribery for poor showing

Narc Kenya has blamed voter bribery for its poor performance in the March 4 General Election.

In a bid to explain the party’s dismal performance, secretary general Mwanyengela Ngali said in the final throes of the campaigns, voters forgot about the policies the party was offering and were lured by money from their competitors.

He said contrary to reports, the party offered all its candidates the support they need during the campaign period.

Narc Kenya flagbearer Martha Karua came sixth in the presidential race but the party managed to secure one seat in the National Assembly and 12 in the County Assembly. Ms Karua polled 43,881 votes.

The party's National Assembly member-elect is Elijah Muindi (Nyaribari Masaba).

“Money took the upper hand of the developments we were offering. In my own area where I was running for Governor, I have never seen so many people at dusk along the road and when a vehicle approaches they would cheer regardless of who it was,” Mr Ngali, who contested the Taita Taveta governor seat, said Tuesday.

While addressing journalists at Narc Kenya's Nairobi offices moments after attending the party’s National Management Committee meeting, Mr Ngali confirmed the party had set the agenda for its forthcoming National Executive Committee meeting and planned retreat.

He said among the issues to be mulled over includes the future of the party and was quick to add that the party is still not interested in joining any political coalitions.

“But we will review this position and may consider it should we realise its benefit to us,” Mr Ngali said.

He said candidates will individually present concerns on electoral malpractices to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

“Also in the NEC meeting, we will come up with the party position and present them so that at least in the future we can correct some of these anomalies and have a clean election," he said.

He took the opportunity to inform supporters that the party intends to remain actively involved in fulfilling its mandate in the post-poll period.

This it intends to do by "consistently contributing to the national agenda in the current political dispensation with a view to stay politically relevant".

Mr Ngali appealed to Kenyans to maintain peace as the judicial process involving the petition filed by Raila Odinga challenging the decision by the IEBC to declare Uhuru Kenyatta president starts.

“We urge those who have filed, or are preparing to file petitions contesting the results to exercise diligence as they pursue their constitutional right and plead that we uphold the outcome of the court,” he said.