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| Protestor arrested by police officers during demonstrations |
Kenya: More than 40 Jubilee Party agents in Mombasa failed to turn up for the fresh presidential elections. This triggered tourism CS Najib Balala to dismiss them as cowards and fraudsters. Balala demanded the arrest of the agents who cannot be found amid reports they fear for their lives. He said they had
received allowances for the second round of the presidential election,
whose main candidates were incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and NASA leader
Raila Odinga.
"These agents are from
Mvita and Kisauni. We are going to take legal action against them," the
minister said on Thursday, noting Jubilee has been let down.
"If anyone will dare abscond, he will be summoned," he threatened but noted their operations were not affected.
Jubilee Party had employed 938 poll officials in the county whose support for the Opposition leader is unwavering. The Governor is Hassan Joho, who is deputy leader of Raila's Orange Democratic Movement.The Cabinet Secretary warned that the more agents boycott, the tougher the electoral process and democracy, by extension.
He acknowledged NASA has managed to instill fear, causing low voter turnout during early hours. "There are a lot of uncertainties... NASA is best at propaganda," Balala said. But he was optimistic about change in the numbers as the day progressed.
Balala said Mombasa has three hot spots and that the election has become ethnic.
"There are clashes and disruption where members of the Luo community are," the CS said.
Majority of Mombasa voters have heeded Raila's 'no election' call.