Jubilee leaders in Bungoma have said voter numbers were low on Thursday because leaflets with warnings were circulated.
Led by Senate speaker Kenneth Lusaka, who lost the governor seat for supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta, they said residents feared possible attacks.
Leaflets reading ‘No reforms! No elections!’ – one of NASA leader Raila Odinga’s battle cries – were distributed in key areas of Webuye, Kimilili and Chwele.
“We know leaflets which were dropped in the county two days to the election made people afraid. But they turned up in large numbers in some areas after we assured total security,” he said.
He addressed the press after voting at Mapela Primary School.
Lusaka said at the time that the numbers would increase as the day progresses as peace was largely the case.
When polling stations closed at 5pm, the centre registered 204 out of 774 votes for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Sirisia MP John Waluke said voting took place at all centres in the county “without any lapses”.
Waluke, who is the county’s Jubilee Party chairman, said the National Super Alliance failed to convince people not to vote.
Other principals in the coalition are Deputy President hopeful Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) and Musalia Mudavadi (Amani National Congress).
Speaking after voting at Yebeko Primary School, the legislator noted voting also took place in Wetang’ula’s backyard.
“Wetang’ula is a NASA co-principal but voting went on smoothly in his polling station…without destruction and chaos.”
The Senator had asked residents to boycott the election, in line with a national announcement by Raila.
“JUST UHURU IN BUNGOMA”
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa said the President will get more votes than he did on August 8.
Barasa, who voted at Kimilili DEB, said all residents who turned up chose Uhuru, “nobody else”.
“This time the President will get more votes because people basically voted for him, unlike the other time when there was a lot of confusion.”
Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama said the repeat election will end the standoff.
He thanked those who voted saying they showed Kenya is bigger than individuals.
Wanyama, who cast his ballot at Chebosi Primary School, said Bungoma residents ashamed the Opposition.
“They have been saying Bungoma is a NASA zone but the people turned up and voted despite threats. We have ashamed them indeed.”
On Thursday night, police in Bungoma town fired in the air to disperse demonstrators who tried to set tyres on fire.
Former Kanduyi MP Alfred Khang’ati said the Mulembe nation voted for Uhuru and will be part of the government when it is formed. He voted at Namwacha Primary School.
Results of the re-run started to trickle in on Friday, with early estimates of the turnout at below 35 per cent.
This is dealing a blow to Uhuru Kenyatta’s hopes for a decisive second-term mandate.
Less clear is his ability to unite the nation, whose deep ethnic divisions have been exposed during the bloody and controversial election process and multiple court cases in the past three months.
Source link-the-star.co.ke
