Elections marred by war of words over voter bribery

Voter apathy and widespread claims of ballot rigging marred repeat elections in the three constituencies on Monday.

Juja, Makadara and Starehe have a history of electoral malpractices — the results of the 2007 elections in all three were thrown out by the courts — with Starehe, for example, being represented by an MP whom a court-ordered recount found to have actually lost the election by 16,000 votes.

On Monday, a woman in Juja was arrested with two voters’ cards while hundreds of voters were locked out as the Interim Independent Electoral Commission applied strict rules.

Former Juja MP William Kabogo argued hotly with security staff when he accused immediate former MP George Thuo of trying to influence voters with money.

Candidates in Starehe and Makadara traded similar accusations.

Counting started immediately after the last voters, who were in polling stations by the 5pm closing time, cast their ballots.

Low voter turnout marked the by-elections, which could also be used to test the popularity of key leaders and political parties.

At the Coast, there was tight security in Lamu Island following allegations of voter bribery at Langoni ward, Lamu West constituency where a civic by-election was also held on Monday.

The electoral commission called for additional police officers to beef up security and remove dozens of people milling around polling centres.

The commission’s North Coast coordinator, Ms Amina Soud, told reporters at Lamu Boys Secondary School that they put security in place after complaints from some candidates.

“We have requested for deployment of uniformed and plainclothes security officers to help apprehend those behind the alleged electoral malpractices,” she said.

Returning officer Steven Karani said candidates accused each other but none produced tangible evidence.

“We shall definitely take stern action against anyone caught in the vice,” he said.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate Musa Mohammed Famau and his National Vision Party (NVP) counterpart, Ms Bwanakaya Shariffa Abdallah, accused each other of bribing voters.

Mr Famau claimed: “The NVP candidate engaged in open bribery before security officers inside Kandahari polling station and no one has taken action against her.”

In a quick rejoinder, Ms Abdallah said: “The ODM candidate assured voters at his last rally at Mkunguni grounds that he will give Sh1,000 to everyone who votes in his favour. We complained to IIEC but no action has been taken against him.”

Other candidates in the Langoni ward contest, where there are 3,003 voters, included Sonsi Aboud Ali (Ford-K), Fani Salim Mohammed (Narc-K), Lali Athman Fani (DP) and Ganzen Feiswal Omar (Safina).

The parliamentary by-elections saw interesting innovations by IIEC, such as employing queue clerks to speed up the voting in all three constituencies. Polling started on schedule and by the time of going to press, counting was underway.

In Juja with more than 180,000 voters, a woman was arrested with two voters’ cards at the Thika Municipal Stadium polling centre after she had already cast her vote. She was locked up at the Thika Police Station.

However, Ms Faith Nyambura protested saying her sister had asked her to carry her card for her.

Charge her on Tuesday

Thika police boss Paul Letting said he would charge her today with being in possession of another person’s voter’s card without their consent.

Mr Kabogo had a bitter argument with the police at the Makongeni polling station over alleged mistreatment of his agents.

Hundreds of people were locked out of polling stations for arriving late. At the Thika Municipal Stadium and Makongeni polling stations, at least 400 people were locked out.

Makongeni presiding officer Regina Wambui Njau said she closed the station on time and would not allow those who arrived late to vote.

Central Province police boss John M’Mbijjiwe said they were treating as rumours reports of voter bribery in Juja.

“But we are not taking any information for granted,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, assistant minister Peter Kenneth and Gichugu MP Martha Karua were deeply involved in the campaigns and the results could be a test of their political clout.

In Makadara, with at least 122,000 voters, voting started in low key, with the long queues that were witnessed during the referendum nowhere to be seen. However, the turnout started to pick up as the day progressed.

A presiding officer at St Paul’s Primary School, Ms Caroline Nyagudi, attributed the low turnout to voters opting to go work. But voting was fast as queue clerks had been stationed at the entrance to guide voters.