UDA, Jubilee leave nothing to chance in Kiambaa campaigns
Clement Kamau and Mathew Ndungu
With the end of the official campaign period for the Kiambaa parliamentary by-election approaching, the weekend witnessed heightened activity with Jubilee and UDA teams making whirlwind meetings across the constituency.
This, as Jubilee Party is upbeat of clinching the seat and will at no time allow a defeat by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
Kiambu governor James Nyoro said while the ruling party is fighting to reclaim the position that was previously held by Paul Koinange who succumbed to Covid-19 in March this year, other parties are only interested in popularising their political outfits in preparation for the 2022 general election duel.
Nyoro dismissed as untrue an opinion poll conducted by a local daily and which stated that UDA’s candidate John Njuguna Wanjiku is the clear leader in the run-up to the July 15 by-election.
He stated that Jubilee is doing everything possible to regain the seat. polls
Popularity duel
He said the opinion poll was conducted by Jubilee’s competitors as a well-orchestrated tactic of protesting results when Jubilee wins.
“We have absolutely no doubt that we shall win the Kiambaa parliamentary position. People should ignore the falsely steered opinion polls being conducted to show they are leading so that when we win, they will say we stole,” he said.
The poll which has shaped into a popularity duel between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto will see Kariri Njama (Jubilee) and Njuguna Wanjiku face off in what has turned out as a show of might between the two leaders.
Huge resources have been deployed by both parties with those attending organised town hall campaign meetings going home with Sh1,000 ‘bus fare’.
On Saturday, a Jubilee Youth Caucus meeting convened by youth leaders led by Pauline Njoroge and attended by more than 3,000 people was held at Havila hotel in Ruaka where the attendants pledged to vote for Njama.
The forum was graced by a host of MPs including Peter Mwathi, Ngunjiri Wambugu and Joshua Kuttuny and Public Service Chief Administrative Secretary Beatrice Elachi, all who exuded confidence that Jubilee would clinch the position.
Mwathi pleaded with the youth to turn out in large numbers and vote for Njama saying that voting for him will be a show of respect and appreciations to Uhuru.
“Our Party Leader has done a lot for us in Kiambu and more so in the infrastructure sector and that’s why I urge you to vote for a jubilee candidate ad a way of thanking the President”, he said.
“Kenya and more so the central region has become a ‘construction site’ because of the ongoing uncountable development projects courtesy of the Jubilee administration”, she said.
Speaker after speaker called upon area voters who are estimated to be 95,000 to turn out and exercise their democratic right of choosing a leader of integrity.
UDA team which crisscrossed the area also prevailed upon the youth and women to turn out in large numbers and be part of leadership change.
Credible elections
Led by MPs Rigathi Gachagua, Didmus Barasa, Ndindi Nyoro and Kimani Ichungwa they expresses the hope that IEBC will conduct free, fair and credible elections in Kiambaa and Muguga ward by elections.
“We have total confidence in IEBC because it’s represents no one but acts as the referee.
We however urge electoral officials to be extra vigilant lest our opponents attempt to use unscrupulous methods to rig the polls”, said Ndindi at Kihara market.
This as IEBC warned politicians against interfering with the exercises in the name of protecting votes.
It said that only accredited people will have access to the polling and tallying centre.
