Governor asks Jubilee to ensure party primaries are credible

Kirinyaga Governor Joseph Ndathi has asked the Jubilee Party to ensure party nominations are not mishandled, warning that a major voter apathy will follow if the polls are not conducted fairly.

The governor spoke even as one of his strongest challengers Ms Anne Waiguru denied President Uhuru Kenyatta is favouring her over the incumbent.

Mr Ndathi said he is not daunted by the fact that he is facing the former Devolution Cabinet Secretary in the nominations and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua in the main election, if he wins the primary.

Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday, Mr Ndathi also asked party headquarters to ensure all aspirants have a hand in the naming of the party’s regional elections board.

The two women are well known figures in the country with Ms Waiguru’s association with a mega fraud at the National Youth Service becoming a national issue, while Ms Karua made her name as an opposition lawmaker, a Cabinet member and then as a presidential candidate in the last general elections.

Ms Karua’s attempt to get back to politics is said to have received Deputy President William Ruto’s favour.

The DP has publicly fallen out with Ms Waiguru and is said to be ready to work with Ms Karua.

“We are working based on a promise that nominations will be fair. We are hopeful that like the party promised, IEBC will be requested to conduct the party nominations so that credibility is guaranteed,” Mr Ndathi said.

WARNED OF VOTER APATHY

The governor, however, warned voter apathy could follow if the polls are manipulated.

“Each and every candidate should have a say in the selection of persons who will sit in the party’s election boards at the grassroots,” Mr Ndathi said.

He said that individuals moving around claiming they will get direct nomination could spell doom for the party, adding that fairness must be observed during the primaries expected later in April.

The governor denied he has lost ground after his supporters were trounced by allies of Ms Waiguru during the election for JP interim officials in the county.

“When I won elections in 2013, I created a major upset after emerging from nowhere. I will do even better in the coming elections. I am much more prepared than before,” Mr Ndathi said.

Ms Waiguru’s supporters won all the key positions in the elections after area Senator Daniel Karaba instructed his supporters to back her.

On Saturday, Ms Waiguru told the Nation that she is not receiving favours from anyone, adding that such claims were only being made by individuals who have lost ground.

FAIR COMPETITION

“I am on the ground now campaigning. I am hoping for a fair competition and I am supporting the party’s call for free and fair nomination conducted by the IEBC,” she said.

The former minister said even the interim office has promised to be fair and that no one should panic.

“The President is not favouring my candidature. It is wrong to make such insinuations. But I am ready to do battle with all the other candidates and I am confident of emerging the victor,” Ms Waguru said.

Both Mr Ndathi and Ms Waiguru have begun setting up teams as they strategise ahead of party primaries expected later in April. “I am sure I will defeat Mr Ndathi and the other candidates. By the time we conclude our campaigns the people will see who has the most presentable and articulate manifesto among all the candidates,” Ms Waiguru said.

Mr Murimi Murage, the county executive committee member for finance, has been tasked by the governor with leading the campaigns.

“We are going to depend on the governor’s record to run his re-elections plan. Today we have the best county headquarters constructed at about Sh380 million ready for occupation in the coming months, we have invested on water, roads, agriculture with tangible results,” said Mr Murimi.

He said the governor is not leaving anything to chance in his re-election plan, adding that the party’s role in ensuring free party primaries is a mandatory requirement in the coming elections.