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Yet Another Election Halted
Confusion reigned when Kisii police boss Josephat Kiarie and a lawyer, Mr Cyrus Minda, arrived at the Town Hall armed with the order.
Mr Kiarie had a hard time serving town clerk John Malinda whom he found presiding over the exercise boycotted by a group allied to outgoing mayor Samwel Nyangeso.
The order was served shortly after Mr Stephen Omurwa had been elected mayor unopposed.
Agitated councillors, businessmen and council staff ejected Mr Kiarie and Mr Minda from the hall, saying the order had arrived too late.
As the confusion reigned, Mr Omurwa was escorted to the parlour where he emerged wearing the official mayor's regalia, but without the chain.
Councillors allied to Mr Nyangeso had gone to court alleging that the clerk had not served them with the election notice, and therefore they were not aware of the impending elections.
The injunction was granted by principal magistrate Samwel Soita who said the elections would remain on hold until the matter was heard on July 20.
In Kiambu municipality, mayor James Gicheru and his deputy, Mr Joseph Kamiri, were re-elected. All committee chairmen also retained their seats.
And only a kilometre away, the Kiambu county council chairman, Mr Alfred Thiere, was re-elected unopposed together with various committee chairmen at the county hall.
Mr Joseph Karuri was re-elected as vice-chairman while Mr David Gichuki was elected finance committee chairman.
The councillors from Kanu and other political parties said they would support President Kibaki's Government after Kiambaa MP Njenga Karume was named to the Cabinet in the recent reshuffle.
And Nyamira Town Council chairman Joshua Osumo retained his seat in an election boycotted by some councillors opposed to him.
Mr Osumo was elected unopposed after his deputy, Mr Hudson Rioba, who stepped down.


