Ikolomani MP blames ‘pollution’ for low voter turnout
Ikolomani MP, Bernard Shinali, insists he is satisfied with Jubilee Party’s performance in the Constituency during the repeat presidential election despite President Uhuru Kenyatta’s diminished vote tally compared to what he garnered during the August elections.
Shinali, who also the National Assembly chief whip, also attributed the low voter turnout to ‘pollution’ and intimidation of his supporters by Nasa.
In total, less than 5 percent of the area’s 49, 899 registered voters turned up to vote on Thursday, with the rest seemingly heeding boycott calls from Nasa leader Raila Odinga.
“There was a lot of pollution in the area. Politicians have been inciting our followers and even threatened the women and young voters with dire consequences if they spotted ink on their hands,” Shinali claimed.
RUNNING BATTLES
Some 2,521 people voted for President Kenyatta, a tally that is about 11,000 less than the votes the Head of State garnered in August.
Despite withdrawing his candidature, Mr Odinga still got 270 votes in the 103 polling stations in the constituency.
This haul was 251 votes more than the remaining six presidential aspirants cumulatively gathered in this area which is considered a Nasa stronghold.
The constituency returning officer Hadson Salenoi also announced that some 86 votes had been rejected.
Interestingly, the area’s former Senator Boni Khalwale managed to draw a large crowd at a bull fighting event at the Malinya grounds on election day.
The area was also marred by sporadic protests with police officers engaged in running battles with residents of Sigalagala and Malinya for the better part of the afternoon on polling day.