2002 Elections

Party Leader Accused of Being Undemocratic

Details

Published on Saturday, 30 June 2007 22:24

 

Several peoople was rocked by defections in Nyamira District, as candidates rushed to secure clearance to contest in the elections. Among those who defected is a former nominated MP Catherine Nyamato, who was subsequently cleared for the West Mugirango seat, under Ford-Asili.

Mr Timothy Bosire also left the party for SDP while Mr Walter Nyambati joined the LDP. Both are eyeing the Kitutu Masaba seat. Mr Joel Momanyi (North Mugirango), joined Kanu, while Mr Joseph Rioba (West Mugirango), defected to the SDP.

The defectors claimed the nominations were riddled with irregularities. In Gucha, 16 parliamentary hopefuls left to join other opposition parties, claiming they had been rigged out. They included former Bomachoge MP Zephaniah Nyang'wara, who claimed the party was undemocratic and accused its leader, Mr Simeon Nyachae, of running it like a family business.

The defections of the hopefuls from Bobasi, South Mugirango and Bomachoge, dealt a major blow to the Ford-People euphoria in the district and sent signals that some of the constituencies, originally thought to be the party's strongholds may be carried by other parties. Mr Nyangwara joined the SDP and was cleared by the Electoral Commission.

The former MP claimed Ford-people had deliberately locked out some contestants and settled for close friends and relatives of the party's leadership. "It was difficult for us to reconcile our conscience with the cheating and manoeuvring of the party's nominations which were conducted most unfairly," he said.

Elsewhere in Gucha District, two supporters of Cabinet Minister Chris Obure were seriously injured and property stolen when robbers raided their homes. The two who included a director of the Coffee Board, Mr Simon Mokua, who lost Sh 20,000 and electronic equipment.