Low turnout countrywide as UDA orders repeat primaries in Starehe, Kamukunji

• Apr 15, 2022

Low turnout countrywide as UDA orders repeat primaries in Starehe, Kamukunji

By Paul Munene

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) will hold repeat nominations in Starehe and Kamukunji constituencies after chaos disrupted the exercise.

Speaking during a media briefing at the Hustler Centre on Thursday evening, UDA National Elections Board (NEB) Chairman Anthony Mwaura noted that they have launched a probe into the matter in both constituencies.

He said candidates found responsible for violence will be held accountable, cautioning that any aggrieved parties should raise their concerns with the party’s electoral nomination dispute resolution committee where they will be responded to in 12 hours.

“There were some disturbances here and there but they came about because we are the most popular party. We have had to postpone some…Nominations to be repeated in Starehe and Kamukunji constituencies due to violence that caused or disrupted the exercise,” he said.

“But let me tell you, all candidates…those that were involved in the destruction of ballot material… must take responsibility for their action. In areas or constituencies where nominations were disrupted we’ll repeat the nominations but those involved must pay the price.”

This comes as party leader Deputy President William Ruto lauded his team for successful primaries terming the nominations process as largely successful.

"The UDA has demonstrated that it is a national party. I want to thank and congratulate the millions of hustlers including aspirants who came out in large numbers to participate in this nomination exercise," he said.

He added: "You brought solutions even where there were challenges. We are encouraged by your resilience. To the hustlers, congratulations for choosing the leaders of your choice."

But even as Ruto bragged about the huge turnout, reports from the ground show the turnout was very poor.

Preliminary results show in Nairobi County the turnout was 21,560 voters.  Nairobi has over 2 million  registered voters.

In Kiambu County, only about 18,667 voters  turned up. The county has over 1.3 million registered voters.

In Kajiado County, only about 13,345 voters turned out. Kajiado has over 200,000 registered voters.

In Meru County, about 10,643 voters turned out.

 Meru has over 800,000 registered voters.

In Tharaka Nithi County, the turnout was 17,678 voters. The county has over 180,000 registered voters.

In Ruto’s home-turf of Uasin Gichu County, the turnout was about 90,890 voters. The county has over 350,000 registered voters.

In Laikipia County, the turnout was about 16,004 voters.  Laikipia has over 180,000 registered voters.

In Narok County, the turnout was about 10,003 voters.  Narok has over 350,000 registered voters.

In Kericho County, the turnout was 46,876 voters.

Kericho has over 400,000 registered voters.

In Nakuru County, the turnout was 11,993 voters.

Nakuru has over 850,000 registered voters.

In Baringo County, the turnout was 14,876 voters.

The county has over 232,000 registered voters.

In Elgeyo Marakwet County, the turnout was 22,143 voters out of the 180,000 registered voters

Samburu County had 16,086 voters out of the 85,000 registered voters.

West Pokot County had 23, 346 voters out of the 180,000 registered voters.

Turkana East constituency had  865 voters out of the

36,000 registered voters.

In Murang’a County, the turnout was 8,065 voters.

Murang’a has over 600,000 registered voters.

In Kirinyaga County, the turnout was 17,643 voters.

Kirinyaga has over 400,000 registered voters.

In Nyandarua County, the turnout was 26,600 voters. Nyandarua has over 489,000 registered voters

In Embu County, the turnout was 19,532 voters.

Embu has over 350,000 registered voters.

In Bomet County, the turnout was 34,876 voters.

Bomet has over 337,000 registered voters.

In Kakamega County, the turnout was 26,075 voters.

Kakamega has over 750,000 registered voters.

In Kisii County, the turnout was 18,765 voters.

Kisii has over 550,000 registered voters.

This means in 22 counties with over 11 million registered voters, UDA gathered only 196,997 votes.