Fake ballots discovered in PNU primaries, repeat ordered

Council of Governors Chairman, Peter Munya addressing the press during signing ceremony between Ministry of Agriculture and Counties on the implementation of the small scale irrigation and value addition projects on April 12, 2017 . [DENNIS OKEYO, STANDARD]

Party of National Unity (PNU) primaries in some wards in Meru and Embu will be repeated because of irregularities.

Party leader Peter Munya said the exercise in some parts of the two counties would be repeated after malpractices were detected.

The Meru governor said one of the places affected by irregularities was Kiguchwa ward in Tigania East (Meru).

All the PNU aspirants in Meru got direct tickets for the August 8 General Election as most of the sitting leaders were unopposed, while consensus among opponents prevailed.

"We have concluded our nominations in all the targeted constituencies and wards except Kiguchwa, where the polls were cancelled due to irregularities," said Munya.

The Council of Governors chairman said fake ballot papers were found in Kiguchwa, which is in his home constituency.

At the same time, Munya, whose party is expected to square it out with the Jubilee Party in the county for the various seats, said the nominations in Embu had been successful.

Ballot papers arrived late at some stations, including for the Ruguru Gadori ward (Embu).

"Our nominations were also successfully concluded in Embu except in two wards where ballot papers arrived late. We will conduct the exercise tomorrow," he said.

PNU National Elections Board Chairman Hosea Mutembei said a tribunal would handle any complaints from any aggrieved aspirant. "The board has not yet received any complaint," he said.