The United Democratic Alliance party nominations kicked off on Thursday, with Deputy President William Ruto’s allies competing for tickets in various political seats.
DP Ruto yesterday asked all aspirants participating in the party primaries to maintain peace during the exercise.
“I am asking all our aspirants across the country to participate in the primaries peacefully, and to make sure that their supporters are peaceful,” DP stated.
The country’s second in command speaking at his home in Karen, affirmed that the exercise will be free and fair and that everything has been put in place to ensure its success.
The primaries will traverse across 36 of the total 47 counties and will see close to 5,000 aspirants, thirteen counties will nominate gubernatorial candidates, 18 for the Senate, and 28 for female representatives, while 13 constituencies will nominate parliamentary candidates.
The primaries began at 6 a.m. and are scheduled to end at 5 p.m.
However, there have been delays reported in various polling stations and chaos, where members claim the exercise, is not fair and credible.
In Embu County, voting materials for some areas were burnt down following rumors that they were to be used in rigging during the nomination process.
Aspirants in Bomet, led by Former KNUT Secretary General Wilson Sossion who is seeking the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket for the Bomet Senator seat, now want the party primaries in the region called off.
The aspirants raised rigging claims at Tenwek High School just hours after the exercise kicked off on Thursday morning, saying it would undermine the integrity of the primaries.
“This sad event occurred at midnight and I reported to the Silipwet police station, and I confirm that police were able to impound ballot papers and ballot papers that were being transported to an unknown and insecure destination,” Sossion said.
Nonetheless, UDA National Elections Board (NEB) Chairman Anthony Mwaura has dismissed claims of electoral malpractice in the nominations, citing the allegations of fake ballot papers being spotted at polling stations as “rumors”.