The Jubilee Party Appeals Tribunal has declared popular musician Charles Njagua Kanyi, aka Jaguar, winner of the Starehe constituency nominations.
The tribunal has overturned earlier results showing that current MP Maina Kamanda had won the primaries.
The tribunal’s chairperson Faith Waigwa said there was “compelling evidence” that a returning officer altered the musician’s results.
“Based on the evidence adduced before us by the complainant, which the respondent could not substantially rebut, the Tribunal finds that the complainant’s evidence on the alteration of his results garnered at the tallying centre is so compelling that it is clear that he had won in the nominations…
“Accordingly, the Tribunal hereby overturns the results as declared by the Returning Officer Starehe Constituency declaring Maina Kamanda as the winner, and declares Charles Njagua Kanyi as the winner and candidate of the Jubilee Party, and hereby directs the National Elections Board to issue him with a nomination certificate,” Ms Waigwa announced.
ALTERATIONS
On Tuesday, Mr Kamanda had appeared at Jubilee House in Nairobi to defend his win, only to be followed in the evening with claims that he had lost to Mr Kanyi.
On Wednesday, Ms Waigwa said there had been a lot of alterations of results, including adding a figure after the declared results.
Mr Kanyi argued his vote had been stolen and that goons “forced the hand” of the returning officer to change the results to his disadvantage.
When the results were announced at Jamhuri High School, chaos erupted immediately after, forcing the police to intervene.
The decision was reached even as Mr Kamanda disputed it without saying what his next move would be.
But Ms Waigwa declined to attribute the anomalies to Mr Kamanda and the MP will therefore not be fined or punished for the irregularity.
YOUTHS BATTLE
The musician’s victory now makes for an interesting race in Starehe, where young people have earned tickets from their respective parties.
Speaking after being declared the winner, Mr Kanyi said the decision had finally vindicated him and vowed to work tirelessly for the people of Starehe once he clinches the seat in the August 8 elections.
“It is the people of Starehe who asked me to vie, so I will work for them,” he said.
He added that he holds no grudge against Mr Kamanda.
“[I] have no personal problems with Mr Kamanda – the only bad thing he did was to try rigging the vote,” said Jaguar.
ODM nominated Steve Mbogo, a flamboyant young man who will now fight with Mr Kanyi for the ultimate seat in the National Assembly on August 8.
Mr Kanyi accused Mr Kamanda of refusing to read the mood of a “generational change” on the ground and asked him to retire.
Later, he left the site, where he performed a jig from one of his hits, “Kigeugeu”.