2002 Elections
It's Do-Or-Die in Poll
- Details
- Published on Monday, 23 July 2007 00:11
The crucial round of electioneering for tomorrow's poll turned dramatic as Mr. Magara and MPs Henry Obwocha (Ford-Kenya) and Alfred Nderitu (DP) stormed the Gucha District election coordinator's office to protest that there were only 51 ballots boxes instead of 60.
The three claimed Kanu intended to use the missing nine boxes to rig the poll. Marked ballot papers would be stashed in the boxes and sneaked into the counting hall at Nduru Boys' School, they told journalists.
Election officials moved immediately to defuse the tension, with Electoral Commission Chairman Samuel Kivuitu pledging that the right number of ballot boxes would be delivered in time for the poll.
The officer commanding Gucha Police Division, Mr. Makokha Burudi, said the commission would deliver the ballot boxes today and have them transported to the polling stations. Election officials showed the Nation team the armoury where the ballot boxes.
Meanwhile, the top contenders for the parliamentary seat moved from house to house, bringing to an end public rallies that were marked with a great deal of tension.
The Ford-Kenya team, led by Mr. Nyachae, targeted grassroots leaders, including clan elders and women and youth leaders. The Nyaribari Chache MP met representatives of various groups from the constituency at his Kegati home to lay strategies for ensuring Ford-Kenya regains the seat that fell vacant upon the death of Mr. Enock Magara late last year.
Mr. Nyachae told the Nation his team was going round the constituency "to convince some pockets in the constituency on the need for them to vote for Ford- Kenya candidate and not Kanu".
Kanu's David Kombo concluded his public meetings with two huge rallies addressed by President Moi and 17 ministers at Tabaka and Suguta market centres on Monday. He and his team of campaigners have, in the past two days, concentrated on his Riosiri home.
Mr. Nyachae discounted allegations that his involvement in the by-election was part of a fight against President Moi. As a Kisii leader, he said, he had the right to support the most popular party in the locality.
"It is South Mugirango people who will elect a person of their choice to replace the late Enock Magara," he said, "and they demonstrated this through the vote during the party's nomination, in which Mr. Magara beat other Ford-Kenya aspirants, and that is why we rallying behind him."
At the same, the MP accused the government of refusing to provide official security at Opposition meetings as required by the law.
During President Moi's visit to the constituency last Monday, he claimed, all security personnel in the area - including the DC, GSU personnel and a contingent of police - were assigned to the presidential entourage, which included 17 ministers.
Both political camps have been holding their campaigns under tight security provided by the traditional warriors known as Chinkororo.
Hundreds of armed Chinkororo kept guard during a Ford-Kenya rally addressed by chairman Wamalwa Kijana, Leader of the Official Opposition Mwai Kibaki and Mr. Nyachae, and also at rallies in Tabaka and Omogenda. They took their brief so seriously that even journalists were interrogated before being allowed to interview the leaders.
