Parties reap big from TNA dispute in Central

By Job Weru

Nyeri County

The Grand National Union (GNU) and Democratic Party (DP) have started benefitting from The National Alliance (TNA) fallout in Central Kenya.

Yesterday, several aspirants apprehensive about fairness in the pending nominations, jumped ship and declared their candidature on GNU or DP parties.

This comes barely a day after Mr James Mathenge, who is vying for Kieni parliamentary seat on a TNA ticket, said several other candidates who will be subjected to today’s nominations have acquired nomination certificates from different parties.

He said the aspirants intend to ditch TNA and vie for the positions using their new parties’ tickets.

Kieni MP Nemesyus Warugongo announced he had joined DP, a day before TNA nominations.

Warugongo will be the only aspirant vying for the Kieni parliamentary seat on a DP ticket.

He cited “mismanagement and corruption” among TNA Nyeri County officials.

“I decided to move to DP, a party that will take me directly to the debe (ballot box). My supporters, DP and I will support Uhuru Kenyatta,” noted Warugongo.

At the same time, Ms Catherine Wanjiku Irungu, who was contesting the Nyeri women representative seat defected to Mazingira Green Party, founded by the late Prof Wangare Maathai.

kick her out

Just like Warugongo, Ms Irungu cited frustrations in TNA, noting that some influential politicians in Nyeri have been trying to kick her out of the contest in favour of another candidate.

“I joined Mazingira, since the party is democratic, while it is also supporting Uhuru’s presidential bid,” she said.

Mr Moses Kanyira, a former radio journalist who is contesting Tetu parliamentary seat, also joined Mazingira party.

Ms Regina Macharia, the Nyeri County TNA secretary general confirmed that Mr Peter King’ara, who is vying for the Othaya parliamentary seat and his Tetu constituency counterpart, Mr Martin Luther King also ditched TNA for GNU.

“This includes several county representative aspirants who have left TNA for other parties for fear of defeat, but we assure all aspirants the nominations will be free and fair. We believe in democracy and urge them to remain in TNA,” said Macharia.