Joho and Waititu fight over Malindi

– Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho confronted Ferdinand Waititu after the Kabete MP was arrested in Malindi over voter bribery allegations – Mwea MP Peter Gitau was also arrested in the town allegedly buying voters ID cards in order to prevent locals from voting in the Malindi parliamentary by-election. ODM’s Philip Etale was also arrested over suspicions of having election materials Politicians from Cord and Jubilee almost exchanged blows after one side accused the other of voter bribery in Malindi by-election. Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho, on Monday, March 7, confronted Ferdinand Waititu at Malindi police station where the Kabete MP had been held. Waititu was arrested at Central Primary School polling station in Malindi town after some party agents accused him of suspicious activities. He was taken to the police station and later released on a free bond after brief interrogation. He denied the claims of bribing voters.

 


Cord politicians led by Joho stormed the station demanding that Waititu be detained. Waititu was clearly outnumbered by stood his ground telling Joho that they were not in Mombasa. “Waititu please do not try me,” said Joho before police officers managed to separate them. Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra accused Waititu of bribing his way to the Kabete seat. His Mvita counterpart, Abdulswamad Nassir, warned him that they would not allow coast peaople to be bought. Another Jubilee MP was also arrested apparently trying to buy national identification cards from the locals in order for them not to participate in the Malindi by-election. Mwea MP Peter Gitau was arrested after CORD officials, led by Kilifi Women Representative Aisha Jumwa reported him to the police. He was found at Kikuyuni area reportedly with KSh 32,000 in cash. Gitau was also booked at the Malindi police station.
 Read also: Mtengo wins Malindi seat

ODM communications director Philip Etale was also arrested at a hotel in Malindi on suspicion of having election materials. Police confiscated his phone and laptops for investigations then took him to Kilifi Police Station which is 48 kilometres away from the town. The Malindi by-election race arguably remained a contest between Jubilee’s Philip Charo and ODM’s Willy Mtengo though there are other candidates as well. They are: David Mangi (Shirikisho Party of Kenya), Reuben Katana (Kadu-Asili), Ali Attas Shariff (Labour Party of Kenya), Peter Ponda (Chama cha Uzalendo) and Nelson Gunga (Federal Party of Kenya). An opinion poll conducted by Trends and Insights For Africa, between February 26 and 28, gave Mtengo a wide lead in the race. The poll indicated that Willy Mtengo would win the Malindi by-election by 61%. The survey placed Jubilee candidate Charo second with 29%. It gave a (+/-) 4% margin of error. The Malindi seat fell vacant following the appointment of Dan Kazungu as cabinet secretary for mining.

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