Tetu residents storm hotel, accuse MP of planning to rig primaries

More than 200 residents and a section of political aspirants from Tetu Sub County, Nyeri County, stormed a hotel Tuesday, April 18 night over allegations that Presiding Officers recruited by Jubilee Party to oversee its nominations in the area scheduled for Friday 21 were meeting with the area MP to plan on how to rig him during the exercise.

Led by aspirants Gichuhi Mwangi, Peter Kamuthu, Githinji Kinjuanjui and Martin Githigaro, the irate mob forced their way into the Aberdares Country Club at around 10:30 pm after reports that the presiding officers were having dinner before being briefed by MP Ndung’u Githenji’s chief campaigner, Fianjo Mathenge, to plan on how to execute the malicious plans.

It is believed that when they realized that their meeting had been disclosed, they covered their faces to hide their identity before escaping to a nearby bush. The MP is also said to have been present in the meeting and escaped before the protesting residents arrived.

“When they saw us, they covered their faces and ran away. Why did they run away if they were not doing something wrong? We have to protect the identity of Jubilee Party and we will not allow unfair exercise,” said one of the angry aspirants.

They are now demanding for the removal of all the presiding officers in Tetu.

“We want the party’s NEB to bar the MP from contesting because he has done an election malpractice. Failure to do that, failure to adhere to our demands, we will not participate in the nominations at all,” said another aspirant.

Efforts by Citizen Digital to reach the Tetu Legislator were unsuccessful as he could not be reached on phone.

Written by Majanga Michael