Tension is mounting in Mbeere North Constituency, Embu County, after two opposition leaders alleged a plot by operatives linked to the UDA government to rig the upcoming by-election.
Democratic Party (DP) leader and former Public Service CS Justin Muturi and his Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP) popularly known as Bus party leader Lenny Kivuti claimed efforts were underway to import voters.
Kivuti sensationally claimed nonresidents were being registered as area voters in Nairobi with the intention of ferrying them to vote on election day.
They said those behind the scheme had sensed defeat and that is why they were engaging in desperate attempts to rig the election as they exuded confidence of a landslide win for the joint opposition candidate on a DP ticket Newton Karish who is the outgoing Muminji Ward MCA.
Speaking during a meeting with over 2, 000 locals in Kanyuambora Market last Saturday, the two warned that any attempts to subvert the will of the people will be met with stiff resistance.
“People here know each other well and can be able to pick out strangers easily and so anybody planning on stealing the election is ill-advised,” Kivuti, also a former Embu Senator said.
Muturi said any attempt to rig the election will be met with equal force, saying, “they have dialed the wrong number.”
The two emphasized the need for a credible process and called on IEBC to ensure the election was free, fair and transparent to ensure people of Mbeere North got their preferred choice of leader.
They termed their candidate as the “People’s Choice”, whom the opponent was fearful of because of his performance record as MCA for three consecutive terms.
Karish expressed confidence that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will deliver a free and fair election.
“This is a litmus test for the IEBC. I believe they will conduct a credible exercise,” he said
Meanwhile, the race has turned into a three-horse race between DP’s Newton Karish, UDA’s Leonard Muthende and Chama Cha Kazi candidate Duncan Mbui who is the outgoing Evurore Ward MCA.
This was after the Jubilee Party denied Jacob Mbao a ticket and instead threw its weight behind the DP’s candidate.
UDA’s candidate has enjoyed support from Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku who has been combing the region, urging voters to align with the ruling party to ensure continued development.
The CS is banking on government goodwill to swing the vote in Muthende’s favor.