All set for UDA primaries amid protests

Deputy President (DP) William Ruto spent the better part of yesterday at the newly acquired Hustlers Centre on Ngong Road in Nairobi, overseeing the final preparations for today’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominations.

The DP has publicly expressed personal responsibility for how the exercise will be conducted.

Yesterday, at the five-storey building that is still under renovation and which will house his party once complete, the DP spent the whole afternoon making sure all the systems were ready for today’s assignment.

But even as he worked round the clock to ensure all was well, ballot papers were burnt in Embu town last evening with residents claiming they had information about plans to rig the nominations.

National nominations

The party, which says it has eight million registered members, will attempt today to be the first outfit to conduct national nominations on the same day in this election cycle, hoping the chaos reported in Embu will not spread to other parts of the country.

Last evening, tension was reported in the party’s strongholds of Rift Valley and Mt Kenya as some aspirants raised fears that the exercise could be compromised.It was also not clear which voter’s register will be used with conflicting reports from the party and aspirants.

The DP yesterday said they were ready to deliver credible and transparent election: “We will have a near General Election in Kenya.”

He urged aspirants and supporters to remain peaceful, assuring that all the equipment required had been dispatched to the polling centres.

Today eyes will be fully trained on him as the party’s supporters troop to polling stations to pick those they want to fly the UDA’s flag in the elections.

The party’s National Elections Board yesterday said it was ready to conduct the primaries asking party supporters to turn up in large numbers.

Board Chairman Anthony Mwaura said they had acquired sealed 75,000 ballot boxes that will be manned by more than 70,000 clerks who will be overseeing the exercise.

“This will be a nominations exercise like no other. It is the first nominations exercise where international observers have shown interest,” Mwaura said during a press conference yesterday.

The party will conduct nominations for governor’s seat in 13 counties, senate seat (18 counties) and Woman Rep seat (28 counties). For MP will be conducted in 138 constituencies and 834 for MCAs.

There will, however, be no primaries in Nandi Hills, Nakuru Town West, Kipipiri, Igembe South, Mwea and Narok South constituencies, the party clarified. There will be 15,000 polling stations.

To avoid duplication of the ballots, Mwaura said they had enhanced their security features. 

“Ballot papers will have several security features eliminating the possibility of tampering,” he said.

Mwaura also said the party register will be used although there were reports the party could still use one acquired from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Some of the races that have attracted attention are Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Kiambu, Uasin Gishu and Baringo governor’s tickets where key UDA figures are participating. In Kericho, former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter is locked in a fierce fight with Erick Mutai;a former lecturer.

In Kiambu, Senator Kimani Wamatangi is fighting for the ticket with Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina Jungle and former Governor Ferdinand Waititu and in Baringo, the seat has attracted four of Ruto’s allies: incumbent Governor Stanley Kiptis, his predecessor Benjamin Cheboi, former Principal secretary Fred Segor and Eldama Ravine MP Moses Lessonet.

In Nandi, Governor Sang is facing a challenge from his predecessor Cleophas Lagat and Allan Kosgey; the son of former minister Henry Kosgey. In Kajiado, Dps two allies, Peris Tobiko and Katoo Ole Metito, will be battling for governor’s ticket.

Rigging claims

In Embu, the voting materials were burnt amid rigging claims by those contesting for different seats. The materials were impounded at Mbeere South constituency tallying centre.

Embu governor aspirant Cecily Mbarire threatened to boycott the exercise if they were not free and fair. Mbarire, the Runyenjes MP, said that she had received reports that there were some leaders who were planning to rig the elections.

“If there won’t be free and fair nominations, I will not participate,” said Mbarire.

UDA last evening said they had commenced investigations on the Embu incident. Elections board chief Mwaura said they had dispatched Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and party members Bernard Koros and George Murugara to handle the Embu situation.