UDA nomination ballot boxes burnt in Embu, Murkomen dispatched to help

A lorry transporting ballot material to Embu County ahead of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party’s primaries slated for Thursday was on Wednesday ransacked by rowdy youth who set the material on fire.

The youth, reports say, tracked the lorry from Mbeere South, which is 15 kilometres away from Embu, to Izaak Walton Hotel, where they pillaged the material and set it ablaze. The lorry’s driver was unharmed during the incident, as he managed to drive off

Subsequent reports state that the incident occurred when several people claiming to be presiding officers and clerks showed up to pick the ballot material at the Jeremiah Nyagah Technical Institute, the tallying centre for Mbeere South Sub-County.

This led to a dispute between two opposing factions, which clashed over who had the right to collect the ballot material.

The disagreement soon after escalated and turned violent, with police having difficulties containing the situation.   

Embu Returning Officer Pauline Wanjiru has however reassured that the nomination exercise will proceed as planned, noting that security had been beefed up and only ballot boxes, and not ballot papers, were damaged during the incident.

“We have had some hurdles but we are correcting them so I want to assure everyone in Embu that the nomination is taking place from tomorrow because the ballot papers are safe, we just had a small challenge with the ballot boxes,” she told Citizen Digital.

UDA’s National Elections Board (NEB) Chair Anthony Mwaura has since condemned the incident while stating that investigations into the matter are ongoing.

Mwaura said party members found guilty of planning or participating in the chaotic incident will be disqualified from competing in the August polls.

The Deputy President William Ruto-led party has further dispatched Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Sigowet-Soin MP Bernard Koros and his Tharaka counterpart Gitonga Muragara to help deal with the situation.

“In the case of Embu where some materials were burned this afternoon, the board has initiated investigations and whoever found culpable will be disqualified,” said Mwaura.

“National Elections Board has noted fake news being circulated on social media purporting to show that some aspirants have already been given nomination certificates. The board categorically states and assures all aspirants that no certificates have been issued at all.”