Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top
A voter casts his ballot at a polling station in Kabuchai during the March 4 2021 by-elections. /IEBC

County News

2 parliamentary by-elections, 5 MCA contests underway amid chaos over barred agents

There were reports of voter intimidation and bribery with former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rachid Echesa, a UDA agent, clashing with a Returning Officer in Matungu after the party’s agents were reportedly locked out of polling centres.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 4 – Polling is underway in Kabuchai and Matungu where constituents are voting to elect their representatives to the National Assembly following the passing on of incumbent lawmakers James Lusweti and Justus Murunga.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) opened voting centres across the two constituencies at 6am with voters streaming to cast the votes since dawn.

Leading candidates in the two mini-polls are drawn from two major political formations: Deputy President William Ruto’s Hustler Movement which is fielding candidates on the United Democratic Alliance ticket, and the pro-handshake wing fielding candidates under Amani National Congress and Ford-Kenya parties.

There were reports of voter intimidation and bribery with former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rachid Echesa, a UDA agent, clashing with a Returning Officer in Matungu after the party’s agents were reportedly locked out of polling centres.

Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and Kimilili lawmaker Didmus Barasa, Chesumei’s Wilson Kogo and Belgut’s Nelson Koech were also arrested in Kabuchai constituency where eight aspirants are seeking to clinch the parliamentary seat including UDA’s Evans Kakai and Majimbo Kalasinga of Ford Kenya.

L-R: Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, Chesumei lawmaker Wilson Kogo, Belgut’s Nelson Koech and Kimilili’s Didmus Barasa were arrested in Kabuchai constituency/COURTESY

The electoral commission was also conducting by-elections in Kiamokama ward in Kisii county, Kithuke Kitise ward in Makueni county, Huruma ward in Uasin Gishu, and Nakuru county’s Hell’s Gate and London wards on Thursday.

The seats fell vacant following the demise of the area ward representatives except for Makueni’s Kithuke Kitise ward where the MCA Kelvin Mutuku resigned.

Kiamokama ward as residents came out to vote as early as 6am .

In Kithuke Kitise ward, however, voter turnout remained low.

Voting was disrupted in certain polling stations in London ward following chaos which saw an attack on three journalists. Hell’s Gate ward reported a low voter turnout in the morning.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Police in Kisii arrested the United Democratic alliance (UDA) candidate in Kiamokama ward by-election Nyandusi  Nyakeramba on allegations of voter bribery. He was later freed without charges.

Nyandusi Nyakeramba was arrested while heading to cast a vote on Thursday over allegations of voter bribery/CFM -Rosemary Onchari

The candidate was forced to get out of his car by the police officers a few meters from Mulimani polling station where he was going to cast his vote.

Police said they recovered money stocked in a travelling bag inside the politician’s car.

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 28 – Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has been arrested in an investigation into claims of an extortion racket targeting...

NATIONAL NEWS

The prestigious event, known for honoring the continent's top young entrepreneurs and Chief Executive Officers under 40, will showcase Kenya's growing influence in the...

NATIONAL NEWS

NAKURU, Kenya, Mar 28 – The Chief Magistrate’s Court in Naivasha has acquitted Joshua Waiganjo of close to 10 charges against him. The offenses...

NATIONAL NEWS

President William Ruto directed the Ministry of Sports to work with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the WRC to make this a reality.

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 28 – Small-scale traders and importers can now breath a sigh of relief after the Government ordered the release of their...

Sports

President William Ruto on Thursday officially flagged off the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), Nairobi....

NATIONAL NEWS

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 27 – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has approved the establishment of an employee protection unit for victims of sexual harassment...

NATIONAL NEWS

Kalonzo said he is prepared to exert more political pressure in 2027 than he had ever done.