Governor Samboja defies Nasa's call to boycott poll

Taita-Taveta Governor Granton Samboja, who was elected on a Wiper party ticket, defied the Nasa coalition’s call for a boycott of the repeat presidential poll and voted.

Mr Samboja, who has indicated he will work with President Uhuru Kenyatta, cast his ballot at Mwakishimba Primary School.

Speaking after voting, the county boss said he had exercised his right like any other Kenyan.

“The process was smooth. Voting is a democratic right of every Kenyan as enshrined in the Constitution,” he said.

PEACE
Mr Samboja seems to be the only opposition governor who has defied the coalition.

The county boss also called on Kenyans to be peaceful.

He urged leaders across the political divide to preach peace and love.

Former Taita-Taveta Governor John Mruttu also cast his ballot at Saint Patrick Kimala Primary School in Taveta constituency at 10am.

IEBC REFORMS

After casting his ballot, Mr Mruttu said the Kenyan electoral system had improved and that it did not require the kind of reforms the opposition was demanding.

“Our electoral system has improved and we are better than most countries in election management. We only need to follow the law,” he said.

The former governor also dismissed the newly-coined National Resistance Movement by the opposition, saying there was no need for such a grouping in Kenya.

ELECTION LAWS
He said there are enough laws to guide the country.

“We must use the laws that we have. We cannot be calling for reforms every now and then without using the existing laws to seek solutions,” he said.

Mr Mruttu called upon leaders to respect the outcome of the poll, saying Kenya needed a stable environment to proceed with development programmes.

The former governor is among opposition leaders from the Coast who decamped to Jubilee Party ahead of the repeat poll.

A low voter turnout was experienced across Taita-Taveta County.

A spot check by the Nation revealed that many people boycotted the poll.