What was expected to be a smooth tea farmers election led to agony on the candidates after IEBC failed to deliver material in time.
In the election time table, the voting was scheduled to start at 7am and end at 3pm on June 28.
However the farmers failed to cast their votes as promised in the morning after the electoral body failed to deliver the materials on time, before a communication was circulated that the process would start at 11am.
Shocks continued after the electoral material by 11 am were not delivered as only police officers and farmers had camped at the polling centres. In Murang’a county, the farmers affiliated to the 10 tea factories expressed frustrations pointing an accusing finger at the Tea Board of Kenya and IEBC.
Moses Mwai from Kanyenya ini tea factory said it was unethical for the electoral body to hold the farmers hostage. “We suspect there are issues that caused the delay, but the electoral body had enough time to prepare,” said Mwai.
In Kirinyaga county, Nahason Ngari a director at Mununga tea factory expressed frustration saying the candidates had spent their resources to mobilise their supporters to the polling centres. “Now by 11 am voting had not taken off yet the directive was to end at 3pm. This is totally unacceptable as the majority of the farmers had retreated back to their homes following the delay,” said Ngari.
Joe Mahugu, a director at Nduti tea factory in Murang’a said it was unfortunate that they were prepared only to be disappointed by the electoral body. “By 11am nothing had started as farmers camped at the buying centres frustrated,” said Mahugu.
Efforts to reach the Tea Board of Kenya (TBK) failed as at the buying centres only police were present to keep law and order. In the settlement agreement designed to end leadership wrangle between the current and former directors.
The agreement demanded an election be held before June 30.
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