Two stations Kajiado East to hold repeat Jubilee poll

Ms Mary Seneta (left) and Ms Peris Tobiko who are fighting to fly the Jubilee Party flag in Kajiado East Constituency. There will be a repeat primary poll in two polling stations in Kitengela after Ms Seneta lidded complaints after the initial election. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The petition was lodged by Ms Mary Seneta, the Kajiado Woman Rep.
  • She is is challenging the win of incumbent MP Peris Tobiko.
  • The nominations were supposed to be conducted Thursday but the party had not printed ballot papers.

The repeat of Jubilee Party nominations in two polling stations Kajiado East Constituency will be held Friday, May 19.

This follows a ruling by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal that the nominations be repeated in two polling stations in Kitengela, namely St Monica and GK Prison Primary schools.

The petition was lodged by Ms Mary Seneta, the Kajiado Woman Rep, who is challenging the incumbent Ms Peris Tobiko.

Ms Seneta had cited irregularities including voter bribery and tampering of voting materials, which she said had been perpetrated by her opponent.

The ruling was made on Tuesday night and the party given 48 hours to conduct the repeat poll.

The nominations were supposed to be conducted Thursday but the party had not printed ballot papers.

LODGED COMPLAINTS

Ms Seneta had lodged her complaints to the party’s tribunal at the Jubilee headquarters in Pangani where the nomination certificate was given to Ms Tobiko, following what was said to be a “political agreement”.

However, Ms Seneta told the Nation by phone that she was not party to the political deal.

“It was said that (Ms) Tobiko would be given the certificate while I would be given a job. I was not involved in that deal,” she said adding that the hearing at Jubilee headquarters was marked by “interference from very powerful quarters”.

PARTIES' TRIBUNAL

She took her petition to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal after it was thrown out by Jubilee.

Ms Seneta said the election will be conducted in tents erected in open fields as the two polling stations are schools and will have pupils in class.

In the results that were announced at the Isinya tallying centre, Ms Tobiko got 9,243 while Ms Seneta got 5,742.

Ms Senata disputed the results claiming that Kitengela, her stronghold, was the one mostly affected by irregularities.

She accused her opponent of intimidating her agents and having them thrown out of polling stations.

“At the constituency tallying centre in Isinya, I raised objections to how things were being done and when I walked out, the remaining ballot boxes were opened in my absence,” she said adding that she presented video evidence in court.`