Jubilee leaders and elders in drive to shore up numbers
George Wambugu addresses residents of Ndunyu Njeru in North Kinangop in Nyandarua County on September 17,2017 where he lead campaign for the re-erection of President Kenyatta and his deputy following the nullification of his August 8 victory by Supreme Court. PHOTO | JOHN GITHINJI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
In Nyeri, Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu said Governor Wahome Gakuru was in charge of a team of leaders identifying those who were moved and how they will be facilitated to vote on election day.
Meanwhile, former freedom fighters from central Kenya together with their descendants have established a lobby – Matigari ma Mau Mau Heroes Association – to help mobilise voters ahead of the repeat presidential poll.
Further, elders, together with the renowned business people in the region, have adopted a tactic previously used by the administration in last elections dubbed Cell Thirty (C30).
Elected leaders in Central Kenya are scheming on how to ensure maximum turnout in the October 26 presidential election, even as they grapple with the problem of “imported voters”.
In a bid to shore up their numbers ahead of the August 8 polls, aspirants had “transported” supporters from one area to another to register as voters as this came in handy during nominations as well as the General Election.
This is the problem that the leaders are trying to resolve after they promised President Uhuru Kenyatta, during their meeting at Sagana State Lodge last week, that they will ensure voters in their regions turn out in large numbers.
During the August 8 poll, voter turnout for the presidential election in central Kenya counties was as follows: Kirinyaga 88.1 per cent, Murang’a (87.1 per cent), Nyeri (87 per cent), Nyandarua (86.6 per cent) and Kiambu (84.1 per cent).
IMPORTED VOTERS
According to Jubilee insiders, the most affected county in terms of “imported voters” is Kiambu, where thousands of voters were transported to Nairobi. “In Kiambu, we have about 30,000 to 50,000 people who were transported to other regions by various leaders. We are working to find out who exactly they were and where they live so that we organise how to help them,” said a Jubilee insider.
When contacted, Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju admitted that such cases happened.
“The party is at the top of this issue. Remember we are all politicians and we have clues on who could have transported people. We are working closely with everyone and our intention is to have as many voters as possible vote,” he said.
He said the number of those who were transported to register in areas far away from their home is not more than 100,000 people. “We will aim to get at least half of those who were transported and increase numbers also where possible,” he said.
NEVER VOTED
Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina said: “We are aware that some people never voted because they were in hospital, had drunk too much the previous night or are old and could not walk to the polling station.”
“This time round, unless it is absolutely excusable, we want everyone to vote. We are pushing to have bars close by 9pm on the eve of elections,” he said.
Mr Wainaina said that in the absence of T-shirts and other campaign merchandise, he is buying environment friendly bags then branding them with Jubilee colours and distributing them. “So far, I have empowered several youths by ensuring they brand more than 20,000 bags which I have been distributing in my constituency,” he said.
The MP said he was working closely with grassroots leaders to identify the people who were transported to other areas to register as voters with a view to ensuring that they get transport to go and vote.
FERRYING VOTERS
In Murang’a, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said several MCA aspirants were involved in ferrying potential voters to various areas. “MCAs used this strategy. We are planning to pick up these voters and transport them to where they registered. As leaders, we have agreed in principle that this ought to be done and we are now dealing with specifics; each MP is organising their constituency,” he said.
In Nyeri, Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu said Governor Wahome Gakuru was in charge of a team of leaders identifying those who were moved and how they will be facilitated to vote on election day.
“This is a largely rural county and we are working with church leaders and other community leaders to identify even those students who are registered here, but are in school in far off places. Every vote counts,” said Mr Wambugu.
He said they intend to achieve 95 per cent voter turnout.
COMB REGION
Meanwhile, former freedom fighters from central Kenya together with their descendants have established a lobby – Matigari ma Mau Mau Heroes Association – to help mobilise voters ahead of the repeat presidential poll.
Outspoken Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers official Ndung’u Wangenye has been appointed its spokesman. The group last week held two meetings in Nairobi and at its offices in Ruring’u, Nyeri town, where it was agreed they will comb the region to ensure President Kenyatta’s re-election.
Further, elders, together with the renowned business people in the region, have adopted a tactic previously used by the administration in last elections dubbed Cell Thirty (C30).
According to one of the administration officers, the strategy is to safeguard the already-guaranteed voting bloc.
It involves having copies of voters’ registers at polling station level for studying ahead of the repeat poll.
