Governor Mruttu to defend seat despite loss in primaries

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu (in a grey sweater) supervising work in his office in Voi on April 19, 2017. He lost the ODM governorship ticket to Thomas Mwadeghu. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Mruttu lost to Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu in the ODM primaries.
  • Mr Sempele awarded the provisional certificate to the MP at the Mwatate CDF hall on Wednesday night last week.

Taita-Taveta Governor John Mruttu has maintained that he will be on the ballot during the August polls.

Mr Mruttu insists that he lost the Orange Democratic Movement party nomination unfairly, saying the results announced excluded those from his strongholds.

He said according to the county returning officer Lawrence Ole Sempele, people had not voted in four polling stations, hence the reason he did not state who the winner was while announcing the results.

CONSULT RESIDENTS
In an interview with the Nation, Mr Mruttu said that he will be on the ballot and that he was pondering the next course of action.

“I am collecting views from my supporters across the county, I am listening to their advice before taking the next step.

"You know this is something I cannot decide on my own, I have to consult with my people,” Mr Mruttu said.

He added that his supporters will advise him on the next course of action.

CERTIFICATE AWARDED
Mr Mruttu lost to Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu in the ODM primaries, becoming the first Coast governor to be defeated at the primaries by his opponent.

In a hotly contested nominations, the governor garnered 14,817 against his perennial rival who got 17,567.

Mr Sempele awarded the provisional certificate to the MP at the Mwatate CDF hall on Wednesday night last week.

The governor claimed that those who were in charge of primaries were active campaigners of Mr Mwadeghu and that prior to April 18, they had a closed door meeting.

“Informers told me that those who were charged with overseeing primaries in the county convened a meeting with Mr Mwadeghu,” he claimed.

“There is evidence that the meeting took place, it started in the evening into the night. That is where the problem started.”

The governor said that he had lodged complaints with the party organ in charge of primaries as early as April 11, one week to the primaries, but his complaints were not addressed.