Tana Water agency boss Kang'ara denies bribing voters

Tana Water Services Board Director Muriithi Kang'ara testifies at the High Court in Kerugoya on May 28, 2018, in the election petition filed by Martha Karua disputing the election of Governor Anne Waiguru. PHOTO | JOSEPH WANGUI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Kang’ara dismissed Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua’s claims that he bribed voters in Mwea.
  • Kang’ara said he never campaigned on the election day, August 8 last year.

Tana Water Services Board director Muriithi Kang'ara has denied bribing voters in favour of Anne Waiguru during last year’s governorship election in Kirinyaga County.

Testifying at Kerugoya High Court on Monday, Mr Kang’ara dismissed Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua’s claims that he bribed voters in Mwea constituency.

POLICE

Mr Kang’ara, who is the region's Jubilee Party vice chairman, further discredited allegations of canvassing and compromising police when they gave him a lift to Kangaru Primary School polling station.

"They took me to Kagio town where I picked my vehicle to Kangaru polling station to assist fix an electric problem in a classroom that was used by IEBC.

"I never did that for the benefit of any candidate, but for all candidates and residents to vote," he told Justice Lucy Gitari.

He argued that the election was carried out fairly.

CAMPAIGN

While been cross-examined by Ms Karua’s lawyer Gitobu Imanyara, Mr Kang’ara said he never campaigned on the election day, August 8 last year.

"We campaigned during the time stipulated by the electoral commission and later left voters to decide independently," he said.

The court heard that if the businessman attempted to bribe voters, there would be chaos and violence that would have been reported to police.

He further dismissed allegations that he has been intimidating Ms Karua’s witnesses.

"I have no power to change the mind of a serious witness," he said.

POLLING STATIONS

He told Judge Gitari that he was Ms Karua’s long-time friend since 1992 during the clamour for multiparty democracy.

"Karua and I campaigned together and she won Gichugu parliamentary seat because I was a good organiser. I supported her," Mr Kang’ara said.

On claims that Ms Karua’s agents were barred from accessing polling stations, Mr Kang’ara said that never happened.

"All election candidates including the independent were allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta. Nobody was barred from accessing polling station," he said.