Three Kwale governor losers to challenge results in court

Three Kwale governor candidates have refused to concede defeat after losing in the just concluded hotly contested governor race.

It was a battle that attracted six candidates, but the only female candidate, Fatuma Achani of UDA, won the race.

Achani was declared the winner on Friday night by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission at the Kenya School of Government in Matuga.

However, Lunga'anzi Chai (PAA), Hamadi Boga (ODM) and Chirau Mwakwere of the Wiper party have refused to acknowledge her victory.

Speaking in an interview in Kinango, Lung'anzi said they have teamed up to challenge Achani's win in court.

Lung'anzi alleged that the election was marred by a lot of electoral malpractice and that victory was stolen from them.

"The election was not conducted in a free and fair manner. We strongly condemn that and will not accept the results," he said.

Lung'anzi said the electoral agency failed to protect the people's democratic rights and ensure credible election.

He said the voting exercise began late and Kiems kits failed in most parts of the county, and voting started as late as 2pm.

The former Kenya Ports Authority employee said Kinango and Lunga Lunga constituencies were most affected by delays and failure of voting machines.

"The kits were at some point jamming for almost two to three hours,” he said.

The PAA candidate said time was not also adjusted, and the polling stations were closed early, hence denying the electorate an opportunity to exercise their democratic rights effectively.

Lung'anzi, Mwakwere and Boga said they have enough evidence of voter bribery and rigging conducted under the watch of the IEBC officers. He said some people were spotted distributing cash to the voters on the election day in various polling stations.

He further said some of the culprits were arrested in Matuga for being in possession of voting material illegally, but were released and no action has been taken against them.

"Everyone witnessed presiding officers being arrested for unlawfully having ballot papers, declaration forms and kiems kits," he said.

Lung'anzi said the manner in which the transportation of the ballot boxes was done had no transparency, adding that some of them arrived at the tallying centres without seals while others took longer to arrive with no valid reasons.

The former KPA employee said in some instances they had to call the police to pick up the ballot boxes.

On Friday morning, the three candidates, led by Mwakwere, stormed the Matuga tallying centre demanding the exercise be stopped.

The Wiper party candidate decried foul play in the voting exercise by their main opponent, Achani. 

Boga also said he had no faith in the election process and he would reject the results.

It took police intervention to disperse the three who were in the company of other candidates and supporters.

In a letter written by Boga’s campaign spokesperson Halimu Shauri, they said they have no confidence that the gubernatorial candidate results reflect the true outcome of the voting process.

The letter demanded that the electoral malpractices raised should be addressed to give Kwale people their rights.

"The BogaSafi gubernatorial campaign team wishes to notify the public that we will not accept the outcome of the gubernatorial race unless detected concerns are adequately addressed,"reads part of the letter.

"To that end, in compliance with the electoral laws of Kenya, we shall be filing a petition to contest the gubernatorial results of Kwale county." 

However, county retuning officer Obadiah Kariuki denied the allegations of election malpractice, saying that the election was handled in a free and fair manner.

Kariuki advised the candidates to seek legal redress if they feel aggrieved, rather than create a circus.

"The exercise was conducted perfectly, where there was a problem it was promptly addressed in good time and according to the law," he said.

Kwale police commander Josphat Kinyua said the investigations are still ongoing for the arrested suspects and once found guilty, the law will take its course.

On her part, Achani called on the candidates to accept her win. She denied involvement in any electoral malpractice, adding she was the people's choice and they chose her over them.

Other candidates that vied for the Kwale gubernatorial seat are businessman Gereza Dena and former speaker Sammy Ruwa.

On Saturday, Ruwa conceded defeat through his Facebook account, where he praised every winner and called for peace.

"Congratulations to all the candidates who won the various positions in Kwale. You have a big task ahead. I pray that God will give you wisdom and skill to serve, "he said.

"Those of us who were not successful, may God provide for us. I know campaigns can be draining. May God bless the work of our hands and help us overcome any bitterness and emotional stress. Nyinyi ni mashujaa." he added.

He said there was no need for fighting and violence, saying Kwale people are one community with the same needs and expectations, and what remains is to build the county.

(edited by Amol Awuor)