Losers in the just concluded TNA nominations in Murang’a county have announced they have obtained direct nomination from other parties allied to the Jubilee Alliance to vie for various seats.
Several other losers have lodged petitions with the Dispute Resolution Tribunal. The aspirants said the nomination was marred by anomalies.
Former Commonwealth technocrat Julius Kaberere, who is vying for governor, moved to Energy minister Kiraitu Murungi's APK party. Lawrence Memia, who is vying for Kigumo MP, decamped to Mzalendo Saba Saba party.
In Maragua, Peter Kimari and three other aspirants announced they will decamp from TNA. Outgoing Maragua MP Elias Mbau, who lost, claimed the nomination was rigged.
Speaking at a press conference Mbau said the poll was marred by irregularities and voter briberly. “The exercise was not free and fair. The returning officer even went missing and the results were read by someone else,” he said.
Mbau said he will petition the Dispute Resolution Tribunal. He dismissed claims that he lost because of his association with Amani presidential candidate Peter Kenneth.
“I have heard about a plot to rig me out and this happened after rampant rigging by external forces,” he added. He said voters in his strongholds did not vote after the party failed to deliver nomination materials
Mbau said his agents were also intimidated and attacked at some centres. However, he did not say whether he will decamp to another party. Kaberere said the poll was not free and fair.
He said voting continued at night, giving room for rigging. “There were irregularities, vote buying, and bias among some election officials,” Kaberere said.
He criticised the party for failing to conduct the election on Thursday even after aspirants paid hefty fees. Mbau and his former Kandara MP Maina Kamau lost to Peter Kamande Mwangi and lawyer Alice Muthoni Wahome.
Kamande got 16,084 votes, while Mbau, a former parliamentary budget committee chairman, managed 7,450 votes. Muthoni, a city lawyer, polled 27,600 votes against 10,080 for Kamau. It was sweet victory for Wahome who lodged a petition after the 2007 elections.
Former Mathioya MP Clement Wambugu survived an ouster after garnering 10,398 votes, with his rival Peter Kimari getting 8,041 votes.
The Party nomination advisory board chairman Stephen Mwaura said he had received several petitions from the dissatisfied losers. He said the party through the Dispute Resolution Tribunal will give a fair hearing to the losers to avoid fallout.