2002 Elections
Chaos, Fury And Protests
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 19 July 2007 01:21
Mwenge House, the headquarters of Narc, was attacked and its windows shattered by a gang that had gone to demand a nomination certificate for Kasarani nominee William Omondi.
Kanu head office cancelled the results in all of Nairobi's eight provinces as well as Naivasha and Ol Kalou and ordered fresh polls.
At the Kenyatta International Conference Centre party offices, the President's son, Mr Jonathan Toroitich, was among the losers who were petitioning the results, claiming that the poll had been rigged.
Violence marred the Ford-P primaries in Kisii and the election coordinator announced the cancellation of results in the 10 constituencies and ordered fresh elections today. The winners protested at that decision and vowed not to take part in the repeat poll.
In the meantime, Rangwe MP Dr Shem Ochodho was among the casualties in the nominations which have claimed many big names. The poll was won by former Kenya Broadcasting Corporation managing director Mr Phillip Okundi.
Dr Ochuodho, however, told the Sunday Nation that he did not take part in the primaries because Narc had promised him automatic nomination. Narc director of elections Alex Mureithi would not comment.
At KICC, furious hopefuls complained of irregularities ranging from importation of voters, use of bogus returning officers, fake forms, political thuggery and bribery.
They camped at KICC demanding repeat nominations and nullification of results.
Mr Toroitich, accompanied by another loser in the Eldama Ravine Kanu race, Mr Tom Chemjor, said the nominations were marred with irregularities.
The claimed to speak for three other losers, Mr Timothy Sirma, Mr Sammy Serenoy and Mr Lawi Kiplagat, who they said were also dissatisfied with the results.
They complained that the lists of voters used in the nominations had been switched overnight and were different from the official one.
They also accused the returning officer of openly favouring one candidate.
The nominations were won by Mr Musa Sirma.
Elsewhere, candidates from Kandara, Patrick S. Mugo, Peter Kiarie Muraya and Mbiyu Kimani teamed up to to protest against he nomination of Dr S. Karau.
They said Dr Karau had bribed voters and returning officers and had used the provincial administration to rig the polls. But Dr Karau immediately dismissed the claims as "total nonsense".
He said: "It is a lot of nonsense. Now that they have lost, they are crying foul but they do not scare me a bit. I will get the seat for Kanu".
From Mt Elgon, Joseph Kimkung said: "There was no election. My agents were beaten and harassed. They did not even sign the nomination forms."
He, however, said that despite the rigging, he and his supporters would back Kanu presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta. "But there is no guarantee Kanu will win the seat".
Mr Michael Muya Musyoka complained no elections took place in 26 wards in Kagundo and urged the party to nullify the poll won Cabinet minister Joseph Ngutu.
In Kwanza, Samuel Moiben cried foul accusing a rival of bribing a returning officer. He maintained he had trounced Ms Jenniffer Masis.
Aspirants from Kitutu Chache led by Prof Tumbo Oeri and Mr Orina Momanyi accused Cabinet minister Sam Ongeri of rigging. They said contrary to reports, it was Mr Momanyi who had won and not Mr Richard Onyoka.
