PNU man beats Narc-K to reclaim Kirinyaga Central seat

By Moses Njagi

Party of National Unity’s Joseph Gitari emerged the winner in the Kirinyaga Central by-election with 18,520 votes beating his nearest challenger Daniel Karaba (Narc-Kenya) who got 16,681.

The by-election was billed as popularity contest between deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Gichugu MP Martha Karua who now has to reorganise her strategies as she battles Uhuru for the frontrunner position in Central Kenya politics.

From the time the by-election was declared a few months ago, the contest shaped up as a frontier for testing the popularity of the Finance Minister, who wants to be crowned the unchallenged supremo of Central Kenya politics, and the Narc-Kenya chairperson.

With Kirinyaga voters now rejecting her candidate, Karua’s pain is compounded by the fact that the constituency is counted as part of her homeground as her Gichugu constituency neighbours Kirinyaga Central.

Supporters of Gitari broke into song and dance as early results showed that he had built an unassailable lead against Karaba who had lodged a successful petition that led to the by-election.

Karaba had maintained that he had won the elections in 2007 even though the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya declared Ngata Kariuki as the winner.

But yesterday, it appeared that the majority support Karaba enjoyed in 2007 had withered as Gitari continued opening a huge lead as counting progressed.

Impressive turnout

Yesterday’s outcome was sweet revenge for Uhuru after Karua trounced candidates he backed in recent by-elections, including Juja where William Kabogo defeated PNU’s George Thuo.

38,695 voters turned out to vote out of 56,595 registered voters translating into an impressive 68 per cent turnout.

Narc-Kenya candidate Daniel Karaba voted at Njega Primary School

Other by-elections were marked by lower turnouts and the contest between Uhuru and Karua could have contributed to the high numbers yesterday.

The tallying was done at the Kerugoya Catholic Church Hall, and the Returning officer Ms Terry Mwai declared Gitari the winner moments after the counting ended for the 50 polling stations.

Even though there were a total of seven candidates in the race, the contest was seen as a two-horse affair from the time campaigns began. This view was confirmed as results continued trickling in with Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC), headed by Issack Hassan, posting results online as they were read at the tallying center.

The five other candidates got few votes, with only DP’s Henry Mwaniki Muriuki getting more than 1000 at 1406. Nguyi Beth Wambura (KNC) got 982, Ngari Peter Murimi of SDP (384), Mwai Duncan Muraguri of PPK (178), and Ford K’s Njeru Samuel Kagoyo (102).

The by-election was marred by claims of voter bribery, with different camps accusing each other of the electoral malpractice.

Narc Kenya and PNU camps traded accusations with each group claiming their opponents were dishing out money to influence the outcome of the vote.

Nairobi Metropolitan Minister Njeru Githae, who had earlier accompanied Uhuru on campaigns trips to popularise Gitari, accused Narc Kenya of giving money to voters, claims that were strongly countered by Karua.

"It is very unfortunate that a person of the calibre of a minister like Githae can be reduced to a propagandist," said Karua, fuming at the alleged unorthodox means that their opponents were employing in the by-election.

At one point, Juja MP William Kabogo had to hastily drive off after he was confronted by angry youths who accused him of meddling with the elections and dishing out money to voters.

There was tension and drama in equal measures along the Kerugoya-Karatina road after the youths, riding on about 50 motorcycles, cornered the MP, who was accompanied by former Naivasha MP Jane Kihara, and accusing them of interfering with the polls.

The group was forced to drive off speedily towards Nairobi, with the youth giving chase in motorbikes.

Kabogo too denied the claims of voter bribery, saying they were only in the constituency to monitor the polls.

Gitari cast his vote at the Kiamutuira Primary School, Kerugoya town.

"We are members of Narc Kenya party and we are only here to monitor how things are going. Those accusing us of malpractice are only doing so out of panic," said Kabogo in the morning.

Mr Mwaniki, the DP candidate accused the Narc Kenya and PNU teams of engaging in malpractices.

"The election was marred in the morning by the two parties. Voters now are staying away from the polling stations awaiting first to be bribed by the agents of these parties. That is why there are no queues inside the stations while many people are waiting outside the compound," said Mwaniki in morning.

Corruption claims

Kirinyaga Central OCPD Mr Patrick Oduma admitted there were allegations of malpractice, but said that there was no evidence and that there were no arrests.

Voting in the 50 polling stations in the constituency started at 6.00 a.m. and while there were queues building up in the early hours, the trend was reversed with time with less people trooping to vote in the afternoon.

Majority of those who reported early to vote were the elderly, with the youth keeping away from the stations. Observers reported cases of voter bribery, especially in Kagumo area, Kerugoya town and Kaitheri.

Reverend John Mathenge an election observer with Kenya Veterans for Peace (KVP), told The Standard that a number of cases where some candidate’s campaigners were bribing voters were reported.

"We have so far received such reports in Kaitheri Polytechnic, St Joseph School and Njegas. These are cases that we will forward since we have evidence of the massive bribery," said Reverend Mathenge.

Among the early candidates to vote was Karaba, who cast his vote at Njegas Primary School shortly before 9 am.

"I am impressed even though the turnout is still very poor, but I hope with time it will improve. I am optimistic of carrying the day unless my opponents rig as it happened in 2007," said Karaba after casting his vote.

Gitari cast his vote at Kiamutuira Primary School.

The PNU candidate was escorted by Githae and voted shortly after 10 am.

"We conducted our campaigns and now it is the turn of the voters to decide. I am optimistic that by evening we will be celebrating our victory," said Gitari moments after he voted.

Ngunyi of KNC and Muraguri of PPK cast their ballots at Kabumbu Cattle Dip and St Joseph School respectively.

DP’s Mwaniki cast his vote at Mukinduri Primary School while Kagoiyo of Ford Kenya voted at Kaitheri Youth Polytechnic.