•The by-election was postponed by the High court and IEBC ordered to include Kabobo’s name on the ballot.
•One Caroline Nkirote said she received death threats from an unknown person telling her to support UDA candidate Simon Kiambi but not Kabobo.
The collapse of a case by UDA challenging the eligibility of Chama Cha Kazi candidate for Kiagu ward by-election Milton Mwenda Kabobo has turned to death threats.
Kabobo won after he filed a petition at the High Court in Nairobi challenging a ruling by IEBC that strike him out of the delayed by-election. It was initially scheduled for October 14.
He was disqualified from vying over integrity issues. Chama Cha Kazi is led by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.
The by-election was postponed by the High Court and IEBC ordered to include Kabobo’s name on the ballot.
Salecio Thuranira filed a petition before IEBC where a committee of inquiry decided to strike out Kabobo and EALA MP Mpuru Aburi’s NOPEU party contender Nathan Mwenda Nchamba because they allegedly did not comply with provisions of the Elections Act.
On August 30, Thuranira wrote to Kiagu ward returning officer objecting, alleging that the two were not qualified for not resigning from MCA's office within the stipulated time after the ward seat was declared vacant.
The seat was declared vacant on June 9, 2021, and the two were supposed to have resigned within seven days.
Thuranira proved to IEBC committee that the two were employees of the county assembly of Meru attached to MCA Eunice Karegi’s office as secretary and personal assistant respectively.
Speaking to the Star on Monday, he said he will appeal the judgement, terming it biased and the judge overlooked the evidence.
“The Judge never mentioned our evidence and this will create a loophole. Any High court judgement is an authority. If not challenged it will create problems to IEBC and public servants won’t resign,” Thuranira said.
The South Imenti UDA coordinator said the party is not part of what he is pursuing.
Kuria’s lawyer Ndegwa Njiru said he should just appeal.
“He should stick to laymen or enrol for law class for interpretation. He does not know the procedure we invoked,” Njiru said on phone.
“We never invoked court in the jurisdiction of the court to whether any evidence tendered by parties either for or against. We invoked on whether the IEBC was fair.”
Caroline Nkirote claimed she received death threats from an unknown person telling her to support UDA candidate Simon Kiambi.
“The text said I am to cause voter apathy to UDA’s candidate. The message also said I will be hacked because of being a staunch supporter and coordinator of Kabobo's campaigns. I reported the case to Mitunguu police station,” Nkirote said.
After the judgment, Kiagu residents took to the streets to celebrate Moses Kuria’s Chama Cha Kazi party win against Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Harriet Mwiti a resident said they love Kabobo and want him to be their MCA.
“Salecio Thuranira is our brother and we wish he considers the repercussions emanating from the by-election. If you have anything personal against Kabobo, call Njuri Ncheke elders to resolve it,” she said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris