Activist Moses Kuria wins TNA ticket

Political activist Moses Kuria. Photo | FILE 

By OLIVER MUSEMBI
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Moses Kuria beat three opponents to win the Gatundu South TNA ticket in a hotly contested nomination.

Mr Kuria, a political activist, garnered 8,343 votes ahead of his closest rival, Joyce Wanjiku Ngugi, who got 6,685 votes.

 

This comes a day after the activist was summoned to appear in court over alleged hate talk on social media. (READ: Court summons Moses Kuria over alleged hate talk on Facebook)

Mrs Ngugi, the wife of the former MP Joseph Ngugi, who died last month, faulted the poll outcome, saying she was willing to seek redress in court.

CLAIMS OF RIGGING

Other aspirants included Nairobi advocate Joachim Kamere, who got 2,352 votes, and John Karing’u, 1,811.

Earlier, the nomination was delayed at the Gatundu Primary School polling centre for hours amid claims of rigging.

Chaos broke out outside the Gatundu DC’s office, prompting the intervention of TNA secretary general Onyango Oloo, who replaced presiding officers in three polling centres.

The official said: “TNA has no preferred candidate and the will of Gatundu people will be respected.”

Mr Kuria had earlier on forced his way into the DC’s compound accompanied by a crowd of supporters after one of his agents was ejected from a meeting with security officers.

CLERKS REPLACED

One of the candidates, Mr Kamere, then called for the exercise to be postponed until new polling officials were appointed, a move that was opposed by his counterparts.

Some agents also claimed that they arrived at the venue only to find that appointed polling clerks had been replaced.

Mr Kenneth Karanja, one of the clerks, said the TNA county office had sent text messages terminating their appointments on Sunday night.

Critics said the party stood to lose credibility if the nomination process was not seen to be free and fair. The Gatundu South by-election will be held on August 7.