Wambora takes early lead in Embu Jubilee primaries
What you need to know:
- Mr Wambora took his tally to 33,778 after official results were announced in Runyenjes and Mbeere North constituencies, against Ms Mbarire’s 19,658 and was the front runner to scoop the vote rich Manyatta constituency.
- Embu County Jubilee Returning Officer Kenneth Kamenchu said they had noticed massive irregularities in Kiambere, Mavuria and Mbeti South wards where some of the votes had been inflated.
- Earlier, Mr Wambora had stormed Rwika Technical Training Institute, the venue of Mbeere South Jubilee nominations tallying centre demanding release of the results.
Embu Governor Martin Wambora has taken an early lead in the battle for the Jubilee Party ticket against Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire, in an exercise marred with confusion and drama.
Mr Wambora took his tally to 33,778 after official results were announced in Runyenjes and Mbeere North constituencies, against Ms Mbarire’s 19,658 and was the front runner to scoop the vote rich Manyatta constituency.
The governor, himself a former Runyenjes MP garnered 29,731 votes in Runyenjes constituency against Ms Mbarire’s 7,507.
Ms Mbarire turned the tables on Mr Wambora by securing 12,151 votes in Mbeere North against 4,047 for the county boss.
In Manyatta, Mr Wambora was poised to win by a landslide after dominating the polls in most of the polling centres while Ms Mbarire is expected to easily win the Mbeere South vote after garnering more than 60 per cent of the votes.
The release of the Manyatta results has been delayed after two opposing groups engaged police in running battles inside the Kirimari Secondary School tallying centre, paralysing the exercise.
Embu County Jubilee Returning Officer Kenneth Kamenchu said they had noticed massive irregularities in Kiambere, Mavuria and Mbeti South wards where some of the votes had been inflated.
“We have discovered serious concerns and in that regard, we are not going to announce any results here. We are going to look at these form 3A further and seek further advice from other quarters.
“It is in the interest of the party that we conduct transparent and credible primaries for the Jubilee party,” he said.
Mr Kamenchu also announced that the party had not conducted nominations in eight polling stations in Mbeti South but promised to carry out the exercise before Friday.
Earlier, Mr Wambora had stormed Rwika Technical Training Institute, the venue of Mbeere South Jubilee nominations tallying centre demanding release of the results.
The angry governor confronted Mr Abraham Limo, a director with Jubilee secretariat accusing him of being used to manipulate votes.
Mr Wambora was particularly incensed by tampering with several ballot boxes amid claims of stuffing of ballot papers.
The move came only a few hours after three presiding officers were arrested on suspicion of stuffing votes.
Mr Limo made frantic calls and later ordered the returning officer to read the results.
