Kenya:Nasa leaders ‘forced to concede defeat’, Mudavadi Says

Nasa has claimed that the Jubilee Party is forcing its candidates who lost in the elections to concede defeat.

The opposition coalition’s campaign chairman, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, said the most affected candidates were the governors who were defending their seats, who he claimed had been rigged out.

Mr Mudavadi said unconventional methods were used to pressure the candidates into conceding defeat.

HARASSMENT

He however did not name any candidate who had been affected.

“The most disturbing feature of this arbitrary political pressure to concede defeat is that it involves threats and intimidation, particularly by waving the spectre of prosecution, unwarranted and excessive tax assessments and demands, and interference with legitimate business or other enterprises,” he said in a statement.

His statement was made hours after former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero conceded defeat to Mr Mike Sonko and handed over to him during a ceremony in Nairobi.

KIDERO CONCEDES

Dr Kidero had complained about the manner in which the elections were held but appeared to have given up on a promise to challenge Mr Sonko’s win.

Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju said the Opposition appeared to have been disappointed that Dr Kidero had agreed to hand over to Mr Sonko.

“He gracefully handed over and that is as it should be. That contrasts with the actions of their party leader and from where I sit, I can see them frantically trying to look for a way of changing the narrative,” Mr Tuju said.

Mr Tuju pointed out that Nasa had not named anybody who had been put under pressure to concede defeat.

RIGGING
Mr Mudavadi said Nasa had noted “strange and odd” wins in Garissa, Machakos, Nairobi, Narok, Kajiado, Wajir and Marsabit.

In Garissa, Ali Korane beat Nathif Jama, who alleged glaring anomalies and rigging.

Ms Wavinya Ndeti, who lost to Dr Alfred Mutua in Machakos, also alleged rigging and said she would file a petition.

In Narok, Samuel Tunai retained the seat, beating his nearest competitor Patrick ole Ntutu (CCM) by about 50,000 votes.

Mr Joseph Tiampati of ODM was a distant third.

Mr Samuel Nkedianye of Kajiado and Ahmed Abdullahi of Wajir also lost to Jubilee candidates.

IMPUNITY

The Nasa candidate in Marsabit got 346 votes in the results displayed on the electoral commission’s portal.
Mr Mudavadi said Jubilee’s antics were the equivalent of those employed by Kanu at the height of its impunity and that their intention was to avoid exposing the extent of fraud in the elections.

“Nasa maintains that no elections in Kenya have been as scandalous and controversial as this year’s and we are determined to prove it in court and through other legal avenues.

“Jubilee must not panic or resort to guerrilla tactics if it really won,” Mr Mudavadi said.