Leaders claim ploy by State officer to rig polls

By Geoffrey Mosoku

Three ODM ministers from Kisii are now demanding the removal of area county commissioner Lydia Muriuki whom they accuse of being partisan.

Public Works Minister Chris Obure, Assistant Ministers Simon Ogari (Information), and Manson Nyamweya (Trade), Bonchari MP Charles Onyancha, and ODM Kisii County Secretary Joash Maangi claimed Ms Muriuki was involved in the activities of rival Jubilee coalition.

The leaders held a news conference in Nairobi on Thursday to ‘report’ what they termed as unusual activities by a civil servant. “We have convened a press conference here to inform the public that we have evidence of the county commissioner’s involvement in activities of our rivals. She has been calling some MPs to lure them to join Jubilee,” said Maangi, who read a statement on behalf of the leaders.

When challenged to substantiate the claims, Nyamweya said the provincial administrator had personally approached him to defect from CORD and “since there are only two major coalitions, it’s clear who she works for”.

No evidence

“We as leaders are not here to just make unsubstantiated allegations because my other colleagues and I have been called by her to defect,” he said. Nyamweya added: “The officer has simply turned herself into a lobbyist and we are telling her to resign and engage in full time lobbying.”

When reached for comment, Muriuki said she could not comment on allegations that lacked evidence. “I have no comment. Ask them to provide evidence because I don’t know what they are talking about,” Muriuki told The Standard.

Obure said if Muriuki was not removed immediately, voters in the region would not have any confidence in the integrity of the coming elections. He asked the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) to investigate the matter, saying they were ready to provide evidence.

The Bobasi MP claimed there was a plot to ensure the recruitment of returning officers was skewed to assist in a scheme to manipulate the polls. IEBC Commissioner Thomas Letangule said the electoral body would not react to the claims until a formal complaint was made.

“Some of those officials have come to the IEBC but we advised them to make a formal complaint,” he said.