Claims of bias in Jubilee Kiambaa poll primaries
A section of aspirants are alleging plans to rig Jubilee Party nominations for the Kiambaa by-election.
Some of them are now vowing to boycott the exercise scheduled for Saturday, saying the party already had a preferred candidate and the nominations will be a mere formality.
Lawyer Charles Munyui, who was among the front-runners for the party ticket, said he had bowed out of the race “but I will show them my might on by election-day.”
“I am not a cow to be shepherded to the slaughterhouse. The nomination has already been predetermined hence I won’t take part in it but I will definitely be in the ballot during the by-election,” he told People Daily yesterday.
Munyui was one of the seven candidates for the party ticket; the others being Josephat Kamanya, Kari Njama, June Koinange, Lennah Koinange, Damaris Waiganjo and Eric Mutura.
Preferred candidate
June Koinange is the estranged first wife of the late MP Paul Koinange, Lennah his youngest sister while Damaris is also a member of the Koinange family.
Munyui said he, Mutura and Kamanya had early this month written a complaint letter to Secretary General Raphael Tuju expressing reservations at the way campaigns were being conducted.
“We held a meeting with Tuju at the party headquarters on Monday where all the aspirants were present but our concerns were not addressed,” he said, adding that he walked out of the meeting when he realised the die was cast.
He claimed government officials, particularly chiefs and assistant chiefs, were openly campaigning for a certain candidate.
Recently, Kiambu Governor James Nyoro said the ruling party did not favour any candidate and cautioned some aspirants against peddling rumours that there was a preferred one.
“The party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has said it again and again that every aspirant planning to contest on a Jubilee ticket will be subjected to a free and fair nomination Nyoro told People Daily.
Party aspirants have in the past cautioned the party top brass against interfering with the primary and instead allow the people of Kiambaa to make their choice.
The Jubilee nominee is expected to face off with the candidate of the Deputy President William Ruto-linked United Democratic Alliance (UDA) whose flag bearer is Njuguna wa Wanjiku.
Jubilee will be keen to retain the seat, particularly after losing the Juja one (which like Kiambaa is in Kiambu County) in Tuesday’s by-election to the Peoples Empowerment candidate. The party is linked to Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria, an ally of Ruto.
Buoyed by the victory in Juja, the DP’s allies will also be fighting to make further gains in the county.
