Councillors Change Resorts

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Simbi Kusimba

29 June 2011

Thirty seven councillors from Bungoma County Council have moved camp from Machakos to a resort in Kwale ahead of the election of new office bearers, sources revealed yesterday.

The civic leaders whose trip and hotel costs is financed by three political operators seeking to have their man at the helm, moved camp after it was infiltrated by outsiders at their former Machakos base resulting in a melee.

Meshack Wekesa alias Museveni, Rosemary Khisa and James Mukwe are all seeking to be elected chair in place of the Ford Kenya leaning incumbent Julius Bakasa Nasietuya whose supporters in the local authority ignored the trip even after a rumoured Sh100,000 gift was dangled. Unconfirmed reports indicated those in Kwale were each given Sh100,000. New Town Clerk Samuel Kapaara will conduct the polls though the election date is yet to be made public. Bungoma CThe authority has 54 councilors.

Meanwhile, civic leaders at the Bungoma Municipal council will take place next Monday with the incumbent Barasa Mbinga facing an onslaught from Christopher Kalabayi for the mayoral seat.

Kanduyi MP Alfred Khang’ati met some of the civic leaders at a Webuye hotel last weekend and reprimanded two nominated ones for “going against the grain” in the latest campaign. It is believed they were rooting for the incumbent whom the MP wants ousted. Also targeted for removal is deputy mayor Edith Shitandi, sources at town hall indicated without naming the mooted replacement. The elections at Town Hall will also be presided over by a newly posted Town Clerk after the transfer of Wilson Chepkwony to Kisii.

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