2002 Elections
Ford-K To Name Poll Nominees
- Details
- Published on Monday, 23 July 2007 00:30
The South Mugirango Ford-K sub-branch chairman, Mr. Charles Mauti Okachi, said in Kisii town that the branch had been informed of the postponement by party headquarters.
He said that Gem MP Joe Donde and his Kwanza counterpart, Dr Noah Wekesa, would oversee the nomination. The two are expected to hold meetings with branch and sub-branch officials.
The seat fell vacant after the death of Mr. Enock Magara in a road accident on the Kisii/Kisumu road in October.
At the same time, the front runners for the Ford-Kenya ticket in the race, Mr. James Omingo Magara, the late MP's brother, and businessman Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, said they were confident of winning the nominations and asked outsiders to keep away from the exercise.
There are 10 other candidates for the seat vying for the same ticket. Unconfirmed reports indicate that former Assistant Minister Reuben Oyondi will vie for the seat on an SDP ticket.
The ruling party has nominated former Assistant Minister David Kombo, Ford Asili will sponsor Mr. Gilbert Ombasa, the Labour Party of Kenya has Zedekiah Orioki and Safina will field Mr. Peter Mauti Nyakweba.
Gucha District Commissioner Njoroge Ndirangu yesterday said all candidates aspiring for the South Mugirango parliamentary seat would be guaranteed of their security.
Mr. Ndirangu advised those running for the seat to inform his office of all their planned campaign meetings to enable him to make security arrangements.
He cautioned politicians from outside the constituency against issuing inflammatory statements likely to trigger tensions.
"We are looking forward to a peaceful campaign, where candidate will be free to seek votes everywhere and conduct their meetings without any interruption," said Mr. Ndirangu.
The DC promised to investigate reports that police had on Saturday disrupted a meeting convened by Mr. Nyamweya at Engeti Primary School.
Mr. Nyamweya had earlier claimed that a contingent of armed police, led by the Nyamaiya Officer Commanding Station, had gone to the venue of the meeting and threatened to arrest him for holding an illegal assembly.
But Mr. Nyamweya denied that that he was chairing a campaign session, saying he was meeting members of his family when the police arrived and ordered them to disperse.
