A nominated Member of County Assembly (MCA) in Embu on Thursday excited many after she advised her colleagues to learn how to “steal votes” if they wish to recapture their seats in the August 8 election.
Ms Nancy Muriithi explained to the House that it was not easy for her husband Peter Muriithi to rig an election and then defend the stolen victory to the point of being awarded a nomination certificate.
“Congratulations to everyone, and I hope everyone will be back even the thieves. To be a thief is not easy. You have to plan how to steal. My mother told us that it is better to have a thief than a foolish person at home. Even now, you should plan how to steal,” she stated.
The lawmaker urged her colleagues to be vigilant, warning that their competitors would not spare any opportunity to engage in such electoral malpractice.
The MCAs, who were discussing the party primaries, unanimously agreed that the nominations were marred with irregularities for any politician to win genuinely but at the same time observed that those who “stole their way to victory” were recognised as honest winners.
Muminji MCA Newton Kariuki, while making his submission, created a light moment after he stated that stealing was part of the election.
“Even stealing is part of an election. When you steal and get that certificate, the issue of stealing evaporates and you are the candidate of that party. Let me congratulate all those who won [either] by stealing or fairly because we know what was happening. There was no fairness in Jubilee Party [elections],” he stated.
Nominated MCA James Kathendu, however, cautioned his counterparts against stealing votes, explaining that it would taint their integrity and consequently water down people’s confidence in them.
The MCAs were speaking during a debate on the outcome of the recently concluded party primaries.
