Hours after the UDA party issued a notice announcing that the party will conduct fresh nominations in Kiambaa constituency on Sunday, May 8, (today) the exercise has begun in some of the polling stations.
This was after the court stopped the Ruto allied UDA Party from issuing a direct ticket to the incumbent MP Njuguna Kawanjiku, and ordered the party to conduct nominations within 72 hours. MP Kwanjiku’s competitor Evans Gichia had moved to the court challenging the party's actions.
And on Saturday, the party issued a notice saying the nominations will take place on Sunday (today) starting from 8 am to 5 pm as directed.
"The National Elections Board has resolved to conduct the party Nominations for the following ward and Constituency by way of direct Nomination in accordance with Section 38F as read with section 2 of the Political Parties Act, the party constitution and the Nomination rules. 1. Nairobi South Ward in Starehe constituency, Nairobi county. 2. Kiambaa Constituency, Kiambu County" read UDA's statement on Saturday
A quick check by Nairobi Leo confirmed that voting had indeed kicked off in most of the polling stations in Kiambaa.
From the pictures shared online, a handful of voters could be seen lining up in some of the stations that have already opened.
Despite this, the dissatisfied Gachia has expressed his frustrations claiming the party did not involve or communicate to him about the exercise. He said he is not ready for the nominations exercise since he had not been given enough time to engage his supporters
Gichia is expected to square it out with Njuguna Wanjiku for the party's ticket. The winner will face Jubilee and Chama Cha Kazi candidates in the August 9, general polls.
