NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 21 – Outgoing Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan who was injured in a grenade blast last year was on Monday issued with a nomination certificate by The National Alliance (TNA) party after his constituents overwhelmingly voted for him despite his absence.
Hassan who suffered serious shrapnel wounds was flown to South Africa for a month, but returned to the Aga Khan hospital last week, where he was issued with his nomination papers.
“I thank Kamukunji people for voting me in, for showing me humanity… being true Kenyans. I thank them for trusting me, they promised to support me even if I will be on a wheelbarrow and that is what they have exactly done by voting for me in the just concluded nominations on a TNA ticket,” he said.
Hassan who suffered massive injuries on both legs and on his left hand said he was happy that he had shown big improvement and expressed hope that he will soon join his constituents to defend his Kamukunji parliamentary seat.
“I have multiple fractures on my right and left leg. Then I have a fracture on my left hand. The bones were mended here (at Aga Khan Hospital) and it was recommended for the skin grafting that the best place to go to is South Africa, and so grafting has been done,” he said as he showed the injuries he suffered in the December 7 grenade attack at a mosque in Eastleigh.
Fellow TNA Nairobi aspirants for various posts led by nominee for governor Ferdinand Waititu visited him in hospital as he got his certificate.
Waititu said Hassan’s election in absentia was a demonstration that Kenyans are ready to vote for leaders who can work and not leaders who give mere promises.
“They recognised the work he has done. Hassan has improved road networks; he has given bursaries to very needy children, the confidence they wanted they got. He is one of good examples what our leaders should do in our country. Kenyans also want to see a performer somebody who can show what he has done with the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).”
Meanwhile, TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja who presented the certificate to Hassan said the party dispute resolution tribunal had received about 100 disputes and had resolved most of them.
He said only about four cases had been forwarded to the party’s appeals board.
Businessman Jimnah Mbaru who lost to Waititu is among those who have appealed.
Source:capitalfm.co.ke
