Thousands of voters in Matungulu constituency are Thursday expected to cast their ballots to elect their Member of Parliament.
The by-election follows a successful High Court petition filed by immediate former MP Stephen Mule’s opponents that overturned the election of the former Wiper party MP on March 4.
On Thursday, Mule will fight it out with businessman Thomas Musau of New Democrats party, and a former Kangundo MP Moffat Maitha of Narc.
On Wednesday, Matungulu Returning Officer Leonard Okemwa confirmed that a total of 101 polling stations will open as from 6am today for the voting exercise, which is expected to be completed by 5pm in the evening.
“We have made all the necessary arrangements including testing of electronic voter identification devices that will be used to identify voters and we are optimistic that the exercise will be successful,” he said.
Mr Okemwa further disclosed that adequate measures have been put in place to address security at all polling stations as well as at Tala Catholic Parish Social Hall, which will be used as the tallying centre.
“I can confirm that we have also addressed issues of security at all significant points for the purpose of today’s activity as a total of 254 officers drawn from both regular and Administration Police will be keeping vigil at all polling centres.” He added.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC) had through a Kenya Gazzette notice directed that campaigns for the purpose of today’s by-election be concluded by Tuesday.
One of Machakos County’s newest constituencies, Matungulu’s land mass measures approximately 577 square kilometres with a population of about 130,000 and 47, 838 registered voters. The constituency borders Nairobi County to the West and it’s fairly cosmopolitan.
Meanhwile, Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has distanced himself from the forthcoming senatorial by-election in County.
Clarified
In an interview with The Standard in his office yesterday, Lusaka clarified that his decision to attend a recent New Ford-Kenya delegates’ meeting in Webuye town should not be construed to mean he was endorsing former minister Musikari Kombo’s candidature.
He said he attended the meeting in his capacity as the party’s member and also as the Governor of Bungoma County.
“I have seen a section of the media saying I was among the delegates that endorsed the candidature of one candidate. I want to clarify that I will never do such a thing because I serve people from across the political divide,” he said.
STEPHEN MULE (WIPER)
The immediate former MP was among the first casualties of election petitions when a court annulled his election as Matungulu MP.
Mule, a newcomer in politics, will be defending his seat on a Wiper party ticket.
He will be riding on the support of the CORD coalition as he is its only candidate in today’s by-election.
He studied Biomedical Engineering at the Mombasa Polytechnic University before furthering his studies in The Netherlands.
THOMAS MUSAU (NEW DEMOCRATS)
Also a new comer in power politics, Musau polled second after Mule on the March 4 General Election.
He later sponsored the court petition challenging Mule’s election.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Nairobi, and has been involved in multiple business ventures before venturing into election politics.
MOFFAT MAITHA (NARC)
Moffat Muia Maitha served as a former MP of Kangundo between 2002-2007 before losing his seat to Johnstone Muthama, now Machakos Senator.
A teacher by profession, Maitha gained his popularity when he served as a Knut secretary general of the larger Machakos District in the 90’s.
The gifted political orator will be riding against the predominant CORD coalition wave, as his party Narc is affiliated to the Jubilee coalition.
By ERASTUS MULWA, The Standard