Kuria loses more support in Gatundu
TNA's Moses Kuria, one of the candidates who has been cleared by IEBC to run for the Gatundu South parliamentary seat in a by-election to be held on August 7, 2014. PHOTO | PHOEBE OKALL
What you need to know:
- Just last week, Mr Kuria suffered a setback when 200 members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders met at Kimunyu trading centre in the constituency and endorsed his sole opponent, Mr Joachim Kamere.
- Observers say TNA is walking on shaky ground and that the die was cast when allegations of rigging emerged in the controversial party nomination in which Mr Kuria was declared winner.
The National Alliance (TNA) candidate Moses Kuria’s woes in the two-way battle for the Gatundu South parliamentary seat are mounting, just 11 days to the August 7 by-election.
Just last week, Mr Kuria suffered a setback when 200 members of the Kikuyu Council of Elders met at Kimunyu trading centre in the constituency and endorsed his sole opponent, Mr Joachim Kamere.
In what they termed “Kimunyu Declaration”, they vowed to campaign for Mr Kamere and ensure he wins. They claimed the TNA candidate is a newcomer and is ill-prepared to become Gatundu South MP, which became vacant after the death of Mr Joseph Ngugi.
In what presents yet another hurdle for Mr Kuria, he has lost a key ally to Mr Kamere, who is contesting the seat on a New Democrats Party ticket.
Mr George Koimburi, a supporter and financier of Mr Kuria, announced his defection last Wednesday after a fall-out with the TNA candidate.
He was accompanied by a number of other defectors.
Mr Koimburi claimed Mr Kuria was “imposed” by TNA operatives from outside Gatundu. He pleaded with President Uhuru Kenyatta not to take sides in the duel.
Observers say TNA is walking on shaky ground and that the die was cast when allegations of rigging emerged in the controversial party nomination in which Mr Kuria was declared winner.
