Non Jubilee Party candidates' campaign materials defaced and destroyed ahead of President's visit to Embu

Jubilee Party vote hunt in Embu County gets underway in the wake of massive destruction of campaign materials belonging to political contestants vying on its affiliate parties.

Ahead of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto visit to the vote rich Embu County to woo voters for their Presidency bid, gubernatorial candidate Lenny Kivuti has suffered a major setback as his billboards and posters were brought down yesterday night. 

The Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate supporters have accused their Jubilee counterparts of orchestrating the alleged electoral offense to convince the President that Embu was a 6-piece vote zone. 

The Embu County gubernatorial race has convincingly stood out as a three-horse tough race, attracting Party of National Unity (PNU) flag-bearer Kithinji Kiragu and Senator Lenny Kivuti of Maendeleo Chap Chap against the incumbent Martin Wambora of Jubilee Party. 

Independent candidates in other political contests have also counted losses as their publicity materials were also destroyed to counter their political bids. 

With the anticipation of such unfair campaign acts, Elections Offenses Act, which came to effect October last year, provides that any candidate who forges, defaces or destroys campaign or promotional material of an opponent, if found guilty, will be liable to a fine amounting to not more than five hundred thousand shillings or imprisonment period not exceeding five years or to both penalties. 

IEBC has been tasked with overseeing a free and fair elections including ensuring that all candidates gets a fair opportunity to carry out their campaigns. 

Party as a political factor has considerably lost impression in the county during this election. Nevertheless, the support for President Uhuru Kenyatta has constantly remained the same as the case of 2013 general elections.