Protestors Block Roads in Nanyuki Disputing UDA Nomination Results

A group of Nanyuki town residents on Sunday took to the streets to protest the results of the just-concluded United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nominations in Laikipia County.

Carrying placards, the demonstrators barricaded some sections of the roads within the town over the outcome of the Woman Representative race.

They alleged that woman representative aspirant Jane Kagiri, who was declared the winner, rigged out her closest rival Purity Gitonga.

Kagiri, they said, was unfairly awarded the ticket before the tallying of votes was completed, claiming that there was rigging in Laikipia West constituency.

The protesters noted that Gitonga had won the elections in Laikipia West and Laikipia East constituencies and her votes were stolen after results were delayed for two days.

Kagiri was handed the nomination certificate on Friday night after garnering 28,978 against Gitonga, who got 23,154.

In Laikipia East, Gitonga secured 8,593 votes while Kagiri got 9,643 votes. In Laikipia North, Gitonga got 8,756 while Kagiri got 7,776. In Laikipia West Gitonga got 5,805 while Kagiri got 11,559.

Laikipia West Coordinator Lucas Ndirangu said that the figures generated at the tallying centre were different from those given by the agents at the polling stations.

Gitonga’s supporters want the exercise repeated, arguing that she has been campaigning for Deputy President William Ruto and UDA for the longest time as opposed to Kagiri, who joined UDA two months ago.

They want Ruto to intervene and ensure justice is served to Gitonga, failure to which they will ditch the party. Gitonga has since filed a complaint at the party’s Hustle Centre headquarters in Nairobi for review.