By STANDARD TEAM

The list of nominees to county assemblies published by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has elicited complaints in Mt Kenya region.

Although the slots were supposed to go to interest groups and the marginalised, it has emerged that some politicians have filled them with their relatives and cronies.

Some former councillors and campaign teams of different politicians have been rewarded with the slots at the expense of more deserving cases.

Party loyalty was greatly rewarded in Nyeri county nominations. The main parties in the county, The National Alliance (TNA) and Grand National Unity (GNU), showed marked respect to its loyal lieutenants in the selections. Among those nominated to sit in the Nyeri County Assembly by TNA is Regina Wanjiru Macharia, Nyeri branch secretary, who has been given the slot for the marginalised representing the youth.

Former Nyeri Municipal Council nominated Councillor Elizabeth Wangui, a staunch ally of Nyeri town legislator Esther Murugi, is one of the nine TNA nominees for the gender top up list.

Also nominated for the gender top up list in Nyeri is Salima Uledi, also an ally of Ms Murugi, the immediate past Special Programmes Minister.

Naomi Wangechi Gitonga, who hails from Tetu but was among the chief campaigners for Kieni MP James Kanini Kega, also made it to the gender top up list as did Eva Mukami Githaiga, a key campaigner for GNU’s Governor aspirant and winner Nderitu Gachagua, who has been given the only GNU marginalised list slot in the county to represent people with disabilities.

In Nyandarua, some leaders have lodged a petition with IEBC over the names of the nominees. In particular, the leaders have questioned the nomination of able-bodied persons into the category of those with disability.

They have questioned the nomination of former Ol-Jororok Ward Councillor David Mwangi as a person with disability whereas he is not.

“This is impunity of the highest order which we will not accept. We cannot have people with disability not being represented in the county assembly and yet the Constitution provides for that,” protested Nyandarua TNA secretary general Ndegwa Wahome.

Though Nyandarua Governor Waithaka Mwangi has refuted claims that his close allies were nominated, the prospective nominee was one of his strong campaigners in the region.

Rurii Ward County Representative Wahome Kamoche wondered how Kinangop constituency would have eight names on the list. “It is a shame that this could happen whereas we have promised transparency. We will not allow people to manipulate the running of the county,” he noted.

The list of marginalised persons in Murang’a County included long-serving civic leader Cyrus Ruru Mwaura, a primary school head teacher Catherine Wanjiku Kamau, Rebecca Mwicigi, a wife of former Kandara legislator George Mwicigi, as nominated members of the County Assembly.

IEBC Dispute Resolution Committee has listed Mwicigi as one of the nominees from Murang’a County whose nomination has been opposed.

AGGRIEVED PERSONS

“Listing Ruru as a marginalised person is taking members of the public for granted as he is a Government recognised contractor and a former chairman to the giant County Council of Maragua,” said one of the aggrieved persons whose name was dropped from the nomination list.

Meanwhile, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), United Republican Party (URP) and TNA parties  have filed complaints over alleged discrepancies on county assembly wards nominees picked by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Of all the 104 cases published by the national electoral body, ODM has 66, which represents 64 per cent. Most of the cases are from ODM strongholds such as Nyanza and Nairobi. In Kisumu County, for instance, a single ward, Chemelil/Mshoroni in Muhoroni constituency recorded four grievances on gender top up category.

Among other affected parties are TNA which had 23; URP had four, Wiper and New Ford Kenya had two cases each. Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo said a party cannot nominate somebody who does not know its agenda or policies to serve as expected. “I am opposed to nominating a person green on party matters. One has to be active in party affairs to get the seat,” he said.

Reports by Wainaina Ndung’u, James Munyeki, Dennis Onyango  and Boniface Gikandi