Kiambaa and Muguga by-elections: Vote counting underway

When the clock ticked 5pm, officials of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) got down to counting votes cast by constituents of Kiambaa and Muguga during the Thursday, July 15 by-elections.

In Kiambaa, voters lined up to find a replacement to former MP Paul Koinange who passed on in March from Covid-19 related illness. 95,413 registered voters cast their votes at the 154 polling station in Kiambaa.

In Muguga Ward, the race was to replace MCA Eliud Ngugi who also succumbed to coronavirus.

Voting begun in various polling stations as early as 4am with a huge voter turn out witnessed at various polling stations including Karuri High School.

Eight candidates battled it out for the Kiambaa parliamentary sit with Jubilee and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) going neck to neck in the contents.

Jubilees Kariri Njama battled it out with UDA’s John Njuguna. Other candidates are Evans Wainaina of the People’s Party of Kenya, Kamau Willie Mbugua an independent candidate, Muchugi Isaac Karomo of the Federal Party of Kenya, Munyinyi David Mugo an independent candidate, Muthaka Lucy Wanjiru of PNU and and Richard Njoroge of The New Democrats.

In the Muguga Ward by-elections Jubilee’s Githinji Mungera will face UDA’s Kamau Thumbi.

While the two by-elections have largely been peaceful and without chaos, allegations of voter bribery and inereference from the state have been made by a section of parties.

While addressing members of the press on the afternoon of Thursday, July 15, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati warned against any attempts to disrupt the Kiambaa and Muguga by-elections.

Chebukati also maintained that chiefs are not allowed at polling stations hours after UDA accused the Ministry of Interior of tempering with the process using chiefs.

IEBC has also responded to a statement by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria who alleged that IEBC clerks from Kingothua Primary School sneaked KIEMS kits to conduct voting at a plantation.

“The car in question is an IEBC vehicle being used by Commission staff who are providing technical support to the polling process. The post by Moses Kuria is therefore a false allegation,” IEBC said