By Vincent Mabatuk and Joseph Muchiri
KENYA: The Political Parties Dispute Tribunal has issued an order compelling the police to obtain fingerprints of Nakuru East parliamentary aspirant David Gikaria.
The tribunal wants to ascertain if the fingerprints he used to obtain a certificate of good conduct actually belongs to him.
According to police, Gikaria had allegedly submitted another person’s fingerprints to the Criminal Investigation Department to obtain the document. A complainant reported the matter to the police and to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to take action.
“The tribunal grant an order disqualifying him from TNA’s nomination for gross misconduct and breach of the Elections Act,” ruled Tribunal Chairman Thomas Letangule.
Appeared in court
Gikaria was arraigned in court in July last year for allegedly stealing 21 steel electric poles meant for streetlights, 23 lanterns and one road sign. The court was told how Gikaria was found in possession of the items at Pangani premises.
The Sh210,000 property reportedly belonged to Municipal Council of Nakuru. He, however, denied the counts, saying he was a respectable civic leader and an aspiring MP.
He was released on a Sh60,000 bond and a cash bail of Sh40,000.
Elsewhere, TNA candidates in Embu County want action taken against some politicians they accused of engaging in vote buying.
Led by former minister Njeru Ndwiga who is vying for the senatorial seat and former Kenya Airports Authority chairman Martin Wambora who is vying for gubernatorial seat, they claimed voter bribery was rampant. Speaking after presenting their papers to IEBC, Ndwiga said voters were being bribed openly in daylight and wondered why commission had not made any arrests.
“The law is being broken and we wonder if IEBC has officers on the ground or if it has turned a blind eye on what is going on,” said Ndwiga.
