UDA summons Norman Nyaga, John Muchiri over burning of ballot boxes in Embu

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party disciplinary committee has summoned Norman Nyaga and John Muchiri to appear before it following violence and burning of electoral materials on the eve of party primaries in Embu County.

The committee, in a letter to the two on Wednesday, cited a complaint filed against them relating to the arson and destruction of party poll materials as well as incitement of the public outside The Izaak Walton Inn.

“The party is seized with video footage as well as information, material and other evidence which links you with the aforementioned criminal activity in gross violation of the Party Constitution and Code of Conduct,” read the letter signed by Paul Karuga.

“Further, be informed that if the accusations against you as herein above specified are proved at the hearing, the consequences thereof are grave and include disqualification from participating in the nomination process, suspension or even expulsion from the Party.”

The two leaders are now required to appear before the committee on Saturday at 9a.m for the hearing of the matter at the Hustlers Centre in Nairobi.

“In accordance with Article 29.1 you may represent yourself in person or you may bring along another member of the Party to represent you provided that such representative is a UDA party member or an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya,” added the letter.

This comes after a lorry transporting ballot material to Embu County ahead of the UDA party’s primaries slated for Thursday was on Wednesday ransacked by rowdy youth who set the material on fire.

The youth, reports say, tracked the lorry from Mbeere South, which is 15 kilometres away from Embu, to Izaak Walton Hotel, where they pillaged the material and set it ablaze.

The Deputy President William Ruto-led party has since dispatched Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, Sigowet-Soin MP Bernard Koros and his Tharaka counterpart Gitonga Muragara to help deal with the situation.