Ballot paper mix-up made me not to even vote for myself, says petitioner

By MURIMI MWANGI

Nyeri, Kenya: Nyeri residents are awaiting the ruling of a unique election petition challenging the election of Governor Nderitu Gachagua.

The petition was filled by Thuo Mathenge whose running mate’s name was replaced with that of a county representative on the gubernatorial ballot paper.

Mathenge told the court that a mix-up of names cost him even his own vote because he took the precautionary measure of not voting for himself!

 “It was the most traumatic day of my life to see that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission had deliberately chosen to scrap off my running mate so I left the gubernatorial ballot paper unmarked,” Mathenge said.

Mathenge came a distant third in the gubernatorial polls and was defeated with over 88,000 votes by the winning candidate.