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Kitutu hopefuls warned against early campaigns

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Published on Saturday, 05 November 2011 03:27

The Interim Independent Electoral Commission has warned politicians against carrying out early campaigns for the Kitutu Masaba by-election.

The directive was issued after it emerged that a number of politicians eyeing the seat were already wooing voters in the constituency through church meetings and funeral service.

“Those who violate this directive risk being prosecuted or barred from contesting the seat,” warned the area returning officer, Mr Fred Odenge.

Officially begin

Mr Odenge said campaigns for the by-election will officially begin on November 5 after candidates have been cleared on November 2 and 3.

“Interested candidates should adhere to the Commission’s rules and conduct of elections.

“We have given them a general warning and those who infringe the directive will only have themselves to blame when they are locked out of the race,” Mr Odenge said.

However, aspirants are still holding meetings with their strategists to figure out ways of winning the elections, with issues of quality of leadership, integrity and clannism expected to play pivotal roles in determining the outcome of the polls.

Further, a number of aspirants are jostling for the ODM ticket with smaller parties likely to issue direct nominations especially where only single aspirants have expressed interest in party tickets.

For instance, the Kenya Social Congress, whose founder, the late George Moseti Anyona, represented the constituency for two terms, is fielding its chairman, Mr Samson Mose, for the seat.

Party secretary-general Jephita Otuke said other than Mr Mose, no one else had expressed interest in the party ticket.

“Unless another candidate emerges, we will give our chairman a direct nomination to vie in the by-election,” Mr Otuke said.

Ford Asili’s secretary-general Njeru Gathangu has promised to camp in the constituency to assist the KSC candidate capture the seat after the two parties recently formed an alliance to help them win elective positions across the country.

And in ODM, West Mugirango MP James Gesami irked a section of the electorate when he asked party leader Raila Odinga to ensure that no one from the party gets a direct nomination.

This did not go down well with supporters of Mr Timothy Bosire, the man who filed the petition that saw the election of Mr Walter Nyambati nullified by the Kisii High Court.