FORD-Kenya nomination exercise has kicked off today in Trans Nzoia County and boxes containing ballot papers have been burnt at Masaba, Mufutu, and Sikhendu Primary schools after some voters noticed the names of the preferred candidates were missing from the register, especially names of gubernatorial aspirants.
The party had issued a statement indicating Governor Patrick Khaemba has been given a direct ticket for the gubernatorial position, and the party appealed to candidates to support his re-election bid.
Four candidates were contesting for the gubernatorial ticket, they included current governor Patrick Khaemba, Andrew Wanyonyi, Moses Khaoya, and John Mutenyo. Both had paid nomination fees for the gubernatorial position and were assured of taking part in the nomination exercise slated for today.
The irate residents stormed the respective polling stations and set ablaze the boxes containing the ballot papers. They blamed the party’s administration for failing to make sure that internal democracy within the party was practised, expressing their dissatisfaction in the manner the party election has been handled.
“We came here early in the morning to vote for our preferred candidates but we are surprised to learn that the names of our preferred candidates especially those vying for gubernatorial positions were missing”, said a voter.
They appealed to the party leader Moses Wetangula to come out and reveal his stand. They blamed the party administration, saying they duped the aspirants to pay nomination fees. “They shouldn’t have taken the money from our leaders, promising them that nomination will be held yet it’s false,” said another voter.
However, aspirant Andrew Wanyonyi called for calm amongst his supporters saying he was communicating with the elections board to find out the modalities of how the gubernatorial voting can be conducted again.
He blamed party secretary general and Tongaren MP Dr Eseli Simiyu for issuing the statement to media houses that Governor Patrick Khaemba had been given a direct ticket, expressing his surprise in the manner he was carrying out the affairs of the party. Wanyonyi said the statement Dr Eseli issued was irrelevant and it was verbal, stating he hasn’t received official communication from the party secretariat.