Like many guys using the Tinder dating app, Sudan loves the outdoors and travels widely. The catch: he's the world's last male white northern rhino and desperately needs to mate.

"I don't mean to be too forward, but the fate of my species literally depends on me," reads his profile. "I perform well under pressure. I like to eat grass and chill in the mud. No problems. 6 ft tall and 5,000 pounds if it matters."

Conservationists are hoping that Sudan's Tinder profile will help them raise enough money for $9-million fertility treatment as all attempts at getting him to mate naturally have failed.

Scientists would use Sudan's sperm to fertilise an egg from one of the two last northern white rhino females: 17-year-old Satu or 27-year-old Najin. The embryo will be implanted in a surrogate southern white rhino, a far more common species.

"We tried everything to get them to mate naturally," said Elodie Sampere, the marketing manager at Kenya's Ol Pejeta conservancy, where all three white rhinos are accompanied by 24-hour armed guards.

"When he first tried to mount the girl, the rangers guided him ... but it is difficult with a rhino," she said.

"We removed them from a zoo environment, which was not conducive to natural instincts, and put them in a semi-wild environment. There were a couple of matings, but it never resulted in a pregnancy."

Poachers sell northern white rhinos horns for $50,000 per kilo, making them more valuable than gold or cocaine, and his keepers fear that Sudan, who at 43 is ancient for a rhino, may die or be killed before they can raise enough money.

"There's always that fear. He's old, he might die soon," said rhino expert Richard Vigne, the CEO of Ol Pejeta. "As long as the demand for rhino horn in the Far East persists, there will always be an ever-present threat."

A swipe right on Sudan's Tinder profile - available in 190 countries and 40 languages - directs users to the Ol Pejeta donation page: http://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/

Just hours after he went online, the number of hits was so high that the Ol Pejeta website crashed.

Kirinyaga governor aspirant Anne Waiguru has accused Jubilee returning officers of taking too long with result tallying in a bid to tamper with them.

Provisional results show that Waiguru is leading with 47,846, followed by Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari with 38,353.

Incumbent Joseph Ndati comes in a distant third with 9,655. Early results from agents had shown Waiguru with over 100,000 votes.

Read: Waiguru headed for major victory in Kirinyaga, incumbent distant third

But she said on Tuesday, "The officers have taken way too much time giving us results for Gichugu and earlier on Mwea constituencies and we see this as a bid to reduce my votes while at the same time increase those of my competitors."

"We will not accept any funny shenanigans because every time the results are delayed here, we also tallied and like in Gichugu the gap between myself and the second candidate were well over 15,000 but we are seeing them say the gap is reducing," Waiguru added.

Read: Waiguru protests as youths destroy voting material at Kirinyaga polling station

She said that the officers at the tallying centre had asked for 30 minutes to conclude the process.

"They have now asked for thirty minutes and we are leaving them to conclude the process, we just hope that when we come back the process will have been fairly and conclusively ended," Waiguru said.

Earlier on Ndathi claimed that Waiguru's victory is a sham.

He told journalists on Tuesday that people voted until midnight.

Read: Governor Ndathi rejects Waiguru win, asks Jubilee to repeat Kirinyaga primaries

The ongoing ODM primaries are being closely monitored by several foreign missions.

They include the US, UK, Canada and Germany, which have teams of observers.

Although development partners usually monitor the General Election, this time tracking has been extended to party primaries.

Dozens of observers are stationed at Orange House - the ODM headquarters - where they are keeping an eye on results trickling in from various areas.

They are also monitoring the dispute resolution process to check if opposition chief Raila Odinga’s party lives up to the democratic ideals it professes. The foreign officials intensified their vigilance yesterday by interviewing aspirants and their supporters who had camped at Orange House.

Some aspirants protested against results and demanded nomination certificates. The observers have also dispatched teams to ODM hotspots.

The hotspots include Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya, Busia, Kisii and Nairobi.

The countries commit substantial financial support to the country’s electoral system through the IEBC.

“We are keenly monitoring the nominations as part of our normal election monitoring process,” Pannel Jamie, from the Canadian High Commission, said.

He told the Star that while Western countries do not directly finance party primaries, they have stepped up their observer mission to check if their processes guarantee democracy.

The observers have been accredited by the IEBC and ODM and will compile a report, which they will make public at the end of the exercise.

Other countries under the EU are monitoring not just the ODM nominations, but also those of the ruling Jubilee Party.

The political careers of key allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition chief Raila Odinga have been shattered in the ongoing fiercely contested and sometimes chaotic nominations.

But as some Jubilee leaders were nursing their losses, ODM suspended elections results from Migori and Home Bay pending investigations, after claims of massive irregularities.

In Migori, Governor Okoth Obado had been declared the winner with 104,250 votes, but another election board member separately declared Ochillo Ayacko winner with 105,200 votes.

Protests broke out in Homa Bay after Governor Cyprian Awiti was declared winner ahead of his closest competitor, Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga who got 14,661 votes.

Incumbent Senator Moses Kajwang’ had also been declared winner of the senate ticket race after getting 1,948 votes.

Baringo Jubilee supporters were ruthless. They rejected their governor and Deputy President William Ruto’s point man in the county, Benjamin Cheboi, and all other elected leaders. Only Senator Gideon Moi of Kanu survived the onslaught.

Expert comment: It's payback time as electorate sends governors home

The writing had been on the wall for months now. The most recent sign of trouble was when Cheboi was heckled publicly in Elda Ravine during a public rally attended by the DP. Governor Cheboi was accused of failing to deliver many projects in the county and sidelining some regions.

Photo Caption: The last shine: Baringo County Governor Benjamin Cheboi's shoes are cleaned in Marigat town. Photo/File

“He is one Governor who does not want to listen to any advice,” Laban Kebut, a resident in Kabarnet town, told the Star.

Also shown the door by Jubilee supporters in the gruelling race are three sitting MPs – Baringo Central’s Sammy Mwaita, his Mogotio counterpart Helen Sambili and Woman Rep Grace Kiptui.

Mwaita, a former Commissioner of Lands, lost to Nairobi lawyer David Kerich. The lawyer got 12,341 votes against the MP’s 5,448 votes.

Prof Sambili, a former university don and Kanu stalwart who defected to Jubilee last year, lost to Dr Daniel Tuitoek, an engineering lecturer at Egerton University. Dr Tuitoek garnered 11,994 votes against Sambili’s 6,015.

Woman Rep Kiptui lost and conceded defeat to her opponent Susan Chesiyna.

Jubilee's Nandi stronghold also delivered a political shocker for veteran politicians. Youthful Senator Stephen Sang, running for governor, was headed for a landslide victory against incumbent Cleophas Lagat. Although the official results were yet to be announced, Lagat was performing badly, coming fourth in the race with the provisional results released by last evening.

Former Cabinet minister Henry Kosgey was second, while former Agriculture CS Felix Koskei came third.

“I am happy that my dream to be governor is almost through and I thank the people of Nandi for believing in me,” Sang said.

It was the second time Sang defeated Kosgey, the first being in 2013 in the Senate race.

Political analyst in the region Paul Melly said Lagat has been inaccessible to the people, and mostly relied on his aides to carry out county activities.

As of late last evening, there were clear indications that Kirinyaga Governor Joseph Ndathi had been sent packing and the fight was between Anne Waiguru and Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari.

At the time we went to press, Waiguru was still leading with 47,846, followed by Gitari with 38,353. Ndathi was a distant third with 9,655.

Either Waiguru or Gitari will faceoff with Narc Kenya Party Leader Martha Karua on August 8.

In Kakamega county, one of Raila's political bedrocks, two sitting MPs were casualties in the ODM nominations.

Andrew Toboso (Butere), who was also the ODM county secretary, and Raphael Otaalo (Lurambi) were floored in the primaries last week. Toboso was defeated by little-known Marama West MCA Habel Nanjendo, who garnered 10,378 against his 8,448.

More than 20 of 60 members of the Kakamega county assembly lost their seats.

Otaalo was whitewashed by Stanley Khainga, who garnered 11,600 against his 3,518.

In Shinyalu, former MP Justus Kizito Mugali was initially declared to have trounced current MP Anami Lisamula, but the results were later nullified. The repeat polls are scheduled for tomorrow.

In Taita Taveta, Governor John Mruttu’s political lifeline hangs in the balance. His opponent, Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu, had been declared the winner but the ODM National Elections Board put the victory on hold until a repeat exercise in five poling stations.

In Malindi, fiery Kilifi woman representative Aisha Jumwa won the highly contested ODM nominations for the Malindi ticket. She defeated the incumbent Willy Mtengo by 8,436 votes to 3,758 votes, ending his short political career. Mtengo has served as Malindi MP for one year only.

He was elected during a by-election on March 8 last year, after then MP Dan Kazungu was appointed Mining CS by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s Ukambani political backyard, Kitui Senator David Musila was locked in a fierce contest with incumbent Governor Julius Malombe. Reports across many constituencies however showed that Malombe led in many polling stations.

Today, the political career of either Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma or that of Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o will come to an end. The results of their gubernatorial contests are expected any time.

In Siaya, nominated MP Oburu Oginga, Governor Cornell Rasanga, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo are also crossing their fingers for the results.

In Kiambu, either Governor William Kabogo or his opponent Ferdinand Waititu will fall. The results of their tight gubernatorial contest are also expected today.

A crowd of elated young men danced outside the market in Kenya’s southern Kisumu city, waving the crisp new Sh200 notes that a local politician was distributing from behind a dusty speaker that pounded out music.

Shoppers paid scant attention. Cash handouts are common during African elections; in Kenya, the devolution of power to 47 counties has made them ubiquitous in the run up to polls for president, parliament and counties due on Aug 8.

The counties, which manage local infrastructure, were introduced five years ago after a government-appointed international commission concluded power was too centralised in the country and partly to blame for violence that killed 1,200 people and crippled the economy following elections in 2007.

The process has been backed by international loans as a way to spread democracy and accountability within a vital Western ally. But devolution has also fuelled local corruption, officials and transparency campaigners say, and with it the prospect of more localised violence come election time.

The prize of county budgets worth billions of shillings mean this month's party primaries for the county elections are hard-fought. Candidates often got into debt to try to buy votes, counting on future riches once in office.

Clashes have already broken out, and violent elections could threaten stability in a country that borders two others in turmoil: Somalia and South Sudan.

The interior ministry said on Monday that politically instigated violence had been recorded in 12 counties so far. "Politicians and their supporters have engaged in acts of violence, destroying property and creating disturbance in polling stations," it said.

At least 14 civilians and four policemen have been killed in the drought-hit northern Laikipia region. A local politician is charged with inciting violence and arson after invasions of private land by cattle-herders and a spate of attacks on farmers and owners of safari parks.

Kenya's ruling coalition annulled 21 county primaries held on Friday amid widespread anger over shortages of voting materials. It began rerunning them on Monday. The opposition will also rerun some primaries after allegations of rigging.

Rose Onyango, who was selling dried fish in the market near the rally in Kisumu last week, said three members of the county assembly and two aspiring governors had given out cash in the market over the past few days, hoping to win votes.

“We just had a woman aspirant an hour ago but she gave it to someone to distribute," the 24-year-old said. "The crowd tore her clothes and the money was splashed everywhere.”

People wait in line to receive money during a primaries election event in the city of Kisumu, Kenya April 20, 2017. Picture taken April 20, 2017 . REUTERS

"SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR"

Kenyans are haunted by the disputed 2007 presidential poll.

Dozens of men, women and children were burned alive in a church. Others were hunted down by machete-wielding gangs during the widespread ethnic violence that followed. More than half a million people fled their homes. Some never returned.

Protests also broke out after elections in 2013, but they were much smaller. A case at the International Criminal Court against powerful politicians, including President UhuruKenyatta, helped dampen violence.

That case has now collapsed. Kenyatta is running for a second term and his old nemesis Raila Odinga is building an opposition alliance. Odinga has said mass protests are possible if elections are rigged.

But this time it is not winner-takes-all. Devolution is designed, in part, to ensure there will be many winners.

"Devolution can defuse massive violence, although it can intensify it in individual counties," said Titus Ogalo, head of the local anti-corruption Transparency International chapter.

"People feel, 'Even if we lose the presidency, we have something to fight for at the local level'."

The counties get around 20 percent of national revenues. They can also raise local taxes. In return, they must provide most health facilities, preschools, and local infrastructure.

Halakhe Waqo, CEO of the government-run Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, said mismanagement is rife. "Every procurement process is a problem. Funds are given to relatives, contracts are given to relatives and tribesmen,” he said.

Kisumu, Kenya’s third-largest city perched on the green shores of Lake Victoria, is Odinga’s stronghold, dominated by his Luo ethnic group. Residents complain the central government has neglected them for decades.

The port is choked by water hyacinth, stranding sun-bleached boats at the docks. The rusting railway has not seen a train for years, and the new international airport has no international flights. Football authorities have stopped holding international matches at the city's stadium because of a rubbish dump nearby.

Kisumu county Governor Jack Ranguma waves to the crowd during an election campaign in the village of Miwani in Kisumu county Kenya April 19, 2017. Picture taken April 19, 2017 . REUTERS

MUSCLE AND MONEY

Reuters interviewed more than two dozen voters: all supported devolution as a way of wresting power and resources from the central government. Many also complained that Kenya's powerful Kikuyu tribe dominates that central government.

Devolution, some said, was already helping. Kisumu boasts a few new street lights, freshly erected cement market stalls, gravelled roads and newly painted clinics. Governor Jack Ranguma said he had given 530 schoolchildren bursaries and started a free ambulance service.

"I have many top achievements," he said. "The investment in medicine and the investment in physical infrastructure is huge … but a lot of money still remains with national government. That’s a serious challenge that we have."

Asked about vote buying, Ochien'g Obiero Philip, the governor's director of political affairs, said many voters would not show up unless they received a cash payment.

"It's something that the voters expect," he said. "It is one of the challenges of democracy in Kenya. People expect handouts to be motivated to vote. It is widespread and the legal framework has never acted on it so it's a loophole."

Some Kisumu residents said construction was sometimes shoddy or projects sat unused, like the padlocked new clinic at Dunga beach where goats lounge on the porch. Ranguma said there was no money for staff. Locals said the contractor locked the clinic because he was not paid.

"Devolution has failed here because we have had bad leaders. Many just want the money," said a doctor in the county hospital. He declined to be named for fear of repercussions.

Hotel receptionist Victoria Ochieng disagreed. "Do you think those people in Nairobi will do better?" she asked. "We used to have one president and now we have 47. The governor is our president ... At least we can see him and make a request."

Each governor makes around 14,000,000 shillings per year ($135,000), including perks, according to the International Budget Partnership (IBP), a global organisation that works with civil society groups to analyse budgets in developing countries.

A regular member of the county assembly makes about a third of that, still a premium on the average annual salary in Kenya of 134,000 shillings ($1,300). Officials justify the salaries by saying constituents often seek funds for events like funerals.

Many local legislators also take hefty travelling allowances; Kisumu's lawmakers have travelled to Singapore and Dubai, among other places. Ranguma said they were learning about agriculture and devolution.

Waqo from the anti-corruption authority said it has charged more than 300 officials from various counties and is investigating more than 40 of the 47 governors. Charges have been brought against six.

After the counties got power and money, many feared violence could follow. "The governors are mini-presidents and those who have muscle or money have the advantage over those with a reputation for integrity," said Kisumu political activist George Ogada. "If the situation does not favour them, then they would prefer to disrupt the election."

Contestants in party primaries are already accusing rivals publicly of rigging.

"It starts as propaganda, then it takes on its own life. Each camp prepares to counter the other," Ogada said. "There is a lot of hatred between the candidates."

Murang'a governor Mwangi wa Iria is headed for a win against his political rival Jamleck Kamau in the county Jubilee primaries.

In the results that are yet to be confirmed by the Party, Wa Iria has garnered 205,976, while Jamleck is second with 119,339.

The results were tabulated by agents of the two on Wednesday night.

Official results from the constituency returning officers were yet to reach the county tallying centre at Murang'a Teachers College by 6 am.

The county tallying officer Peter Muhoho has said the results will be announced on Thursday noon.

Kamau's supporters started conceding defeat late into Wednesday night, though no word has been heard from Kamau himself.

"To the Wira fraternity, congratulations guys!!!," said one of Jamleck's handlers.

Mathioya Mp Clement Wambugu has also been edged out by Peter Kimari who got 31,340 against Wambugu's 4,900.

On Wednesday, the two leaders blamed each other after a woman was arrested in Murang'a while in possession of ballot papers.

Read: Wa Iria, Jamleck trade barbs as Murang'a woman is arrested with ballot papers

According to a poll conducted earlier this month, Wa Iria was the preferred candidate for Murang'a governor with a 58 per cent approval rating.

The Infotrak poll released on April 19 indicated that the governor is followed by Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau at 20.5 per cent.

Read: Wa Iria, Jamleck trade barbs as Murang'a woman is arrested with ballot papers

According to a poll conducted earlier this month, Wa Iria was the preferred candidate for Murang'a governor with a 58 per cent approval rating.

The Infotrak poll released on April 19 indicated that the governor is followed by Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau at 20.5 per cent.

Mike Sonko and Johnson Sakaja are on the lead for the Nairobi Governor and Senate seats respectively as votes trickle in from the Jubilee primaries.

At Highway Secondary Polling Station, Sonko got 385 votes, followed by Peter Kenneth with 231. Bishop Margaret Wanjiru was third with only 11 votes.

Sonko also won at Mbagathi Primary where he garnered 451, Kenneth got 113 while Bishop Margret 8.

In Kahawa West at the Kiwanja Primary, Sonko won by 776, Kenneth got 446 and only 11 for Bishop Wanjiru Margret

Sonko took the lead at Kasarani Primary with 381, followed by Kenneth with 253 while Bishop Margaret was third with 15.

By Midnight, Sakaja, a Nairobi Senator aspirant, had 21, 210 votes from 52 polling stations, a significant gap between himself and his opponents.

In Inns worth school station, Sonko has 42 votes followed by Kenneth 30 votes.

[VIDEO] Uhuru eats meat with Sakaja, Sonko during impromptu city tour

Sakaja is vying for the seat held by current Sonko, who is in the race to replace Governor Evans Kidero.

More on this: Battle for Nairobi governor shifts focus to Sakaja’s degree

[VIDEO] Uhuru eats meat with Sakaja, Sonko during impromptu city tour

He added that all those who would vie for governor are his friends and that there comes a time when leaders must make sacrifices.

Sakaja is vying for the seat held by current Sonko, who is in the race to replace Governor Evans Kidero.

More on this: Battle for Nairobi governor shifts focus to Sakaja’s degree

Opposition chief Raila Odinga is all set to be named the National Super Alliance presidential candidate at a “million man and woman” rally in Uhuru Park today.

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula and Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto’s backing helped Raila to secure the ticket after days and nights of tense negotiations. 

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka had put up a fight for the ticket, insisting that a Kalonzo-Musalia Mudavadi ticket would have been the best.

“This was a tough call, but, eventually, all agreed that Raila was the best bet,” said an official privy to the negotiations.

Raila will be unveiled alongside Kalonzo as his running mate, setting the stage for a gruelling contest with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Party.

Under the arrangement, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi is proposed to take up a position that will be created after the election, and only in the event of victory, known as Premier Cabinet Secretary. The proposed position is touted to be influential, in charge of government coordination and supervision of all ministries.

The Premier Cabinet Secretary, equivalent to a chief minister, according to sources, will have the added portfolio of Internal Security and Administration of National Government.

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Expert comment: NASA has settled on a truly Face of Kenya ticket

The Constitution does not provide for this position.

Under the Premier CS will be two powerful deputies of equal rank. One will oversee the State Department of Public Service and the other will be in charge of the State Department of Devolution and Planning.

Sources indicate Rutto’s Chama Cha Mashinani will be allocated one of the two deputies to head the Devolution wing.

Welcoming Rutto into the NASA Pentagon, Raila said that with the governor’s entry, the alliance has gained a new general, “particularly for our battle to protect and preserve devolution”.

Rutto is defending his seat as Bomet Governor and it was not immediately clear whether he would resign to take up the proposed slot if NASA ascends to power.

The other deputy in charge of Public Service will go to Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya party.

The State Department of Public Service will also oversee Foreign Affairs and International Relations.

The Deputy Premier in charge of Devolution and Planning is also proposed to be in charge of the powerful Finance and Planning ministry.

By late afternoon yesterday, the five principals were still locked in boardroom discussions amid indications that Kalonzo was still dissatisfied with the NASA lineup.

The former Vice President favoured Mudavadi as his running mate, with Raila taking over as the Premier Cabinet Secretary.

Mudavadi also believed that he stood the best chance to beat Uhuru and his candidature would be more appealing in the Jubilee strongholds

By early evening, National Assembly minority leader Francis Nyenze was still insisting that Kalonzo must be declared the joint opposition presidential candidate.

“We have made it very clear that it is our candidate. Raila has tried twice, it is now Honourable Kalonzo Musyoka’s turn,” said an adamant Nyenze. “Anything short of that is not acceptable.”

Nyenze had been branded a hardliner in the 12-member National Coordination Committee that was the first to propose Raila for the top job. His party Wiper has threatened to go it alone, a move that would cripple the joint opposition initiative and hand Jubilee a far better fighting chance.

Sources familiar with the behind-the-scenes intrigues said Wetang’ula and Rutto threw their weight behind a Raila candidature, leaving Kalonzo with few options.

The NASA captains had pledged to remain united despite pressure from their supporters.

Wetang’ula on Thursday last week fired a warning salvo, saying, “We are telling Kenyans, if you are a Kalonzo supporter and you are saying, ‘if it is not Kalonzo you will not vote,’ then you are a Jubilee supporter. If you are a Raila supporter and you are saying ‘if it is not Raila, I will not vote,’ then you are Jubilee supporter”.

The 22 Cabinet slots provided in the Constitution have been organised into five clusters, each to be headed by one of the five principals. The principals have agreed to allocate themselves each four Cabinet positions – if they win.

They have emphasised that no tribe will dominate the Cabinet, in what is likely to be their rallying cry as they begin countrywide campaigns. NASA is painting the UhuRuto administration as failed, indifferent, irredeemably corrupt and a two-tribe outfit.

Apart from the Cabinet, each principal has also been guaranteed at least four parastatal slots of their choice.

The opposition chiefs have reserved two Cabinet slots and other positions until after the polls. They include the speakers of the National Assembly and the Senate and majority leaders in both Houses.

NASA is keen to recreate a political behemoth similar to the 2002 Narc wave that swept away Kanu from power after 39 years of incumbency.

The alliance has already unveiled a seven-pillar policy platform that would be the fulcrum of its presidential campaign.

These include national reconciliation and healing, resolving historical injustices – including implementation of the TJRC Report – as well as realising equality for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and disadvantaged communities.

The policy plan also involves strengthening devolution, establishing a government that is a servant of the people, realising social and economic rights as well as eradicating poverty and unemployment.

The opposition will pitch the themes of economic exclusion and sabotage, protecting devolution, correcting historical injustices and mega graft as their new rallying calls for Jubilee’s removal.

On Thursday next week, ODM will officially nominate Raila as its presidential flagbearer.

Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth has rejected the Nairobi governor's results saying the nomination was not free and fair.

"I disassociate myself from the sham election that Jubilee Party purported to have and demand the same elections be nullified," he said in a statement on Thursday.

As of Wednesday night, his competitor Mike Sonko was in the lead.

In Langata constituency, Sonko garnered 7,727 against Kenneth who got 2,431. The vote counting is still ongoing with results showing Sonko may be headed to a landslide win.

The two are in the race to unseat Nairobi governor Evans Kidero in August polls.

Kenneth called for a repeat of the nominations adding that Jubilee Party only indicated on the eve of the elections that the voting would be on the basis of an identity card.

The party said they had received reports that there were people who infiltrated Nairobi primaries.

Elections board chairman Andrew Musangi said this was the reason most people could not find their names in the registers.

More on this: Infiltration of 'outsiders' cause of names missing in Jubilee registers - official

Kenneth said after the announcements by the party many constituencies did not have the party registers as indicated.

"...and they continued the use of IDs. When the register was introduced halfway voting, many voters who were registered party members had their names missing," he said.

The Nairobi Governor aspirant had asked Jubilee Party election officials to address the 'few irregularities' in the ongoing nominations.

"It is important to note that there are hiccups and I think the party should address them," he told journalists after casting his vote at Bidii primary school.

Kenneth complained that some people were allowed to vote despite their names missing in the registers while others were denied the chance.

Read: Address irregularities in Nairobi nominations, Kenneth asks Jubilee poll officials

Kenneth further said the presiding officers used a marker instead of indelible ink which he said was easily washed off.

"This facilitated multiple voting. There were also cases of a massive number of voters imported from Kajiado and Machakos counties," he said.

He claimed the voters were transported to vote throughout the county with their IDs.

"The trend in various polling stations indicated that there was a scheme to transport a particular organised group to vote," he said.

Noting that there was bribery during the nominations, Kenneth said a number of polling stations were opened late and closed early.

"There were cases of outright bribery by some of the candidates outside polling stations to alter the true voting outcome," he said.

Bishop Margaret Wanjiru has been denied bail after she was charged with malicious damage to property and creating a disturbance.

The Nairobi governor aspirant stormed the City Park polling station on Wednesday with her supporters who destroyed voting materials.

She denied the charges before chief magistrate Francis Andayi on Thursday.

Read: Bishop Wanjiru charged with malicious damage, creating disturbance at Jubilee polls

Andayi directed that the aspirant be detained for five days until police conclude investigations into the matter.

He said the politician is required to deposit a Sh500,000 bond and give two sureties after the five days elapse.

In mitigation, Wanjiru asked the court to allow her to be detained at the police cells so that she can access her medication.

She was taken to Kileleshwa police station and asked to provide the medical documents to prove that she was not feeling well.

[VIDEO] Bishop Wanjiru arrested after storming City Park polling station

Nominated MP Johnson Sakaja has clinched the Jubilee ticket as Senate candidate for Nairobi county

Sakaja garnered 163,448 votes and his closest rival Mutinda Kavemba got 33,109.

Nairobi woman representative Rachel Shebesh also won the Jubilee ticket and will be defending her post in the August 8 polls.

Shebesh got 91,766 votes, followed by Millicent Omanga with 53,734 votes. Karen Nyamu came third with 36,828 votes.

Read: Sonko, Sakaja and Shebesh maintain steady lead in Nairobi Jubilee polls

But Omanga's supporters disputed the results leading to chaos at Nyayo stadium tallying centre.

Shebesh had stormed the premises earlier on Thursday over an alleged plot to rig her out of the Nairobi Jubilee primaries.

[VIDEO] Shebesh storms Nyayo Stadium tallying centre over 'plot' to rig her out

Shebesh claims the Embakasi North returning officer cancelled her votes in favour of rival Millicent Omanga.

"I have evidence that the returning officer cancelled votes in favour of Omanga, but I will not leave here unless this is corrected. Otherwise one of us will go to jail," the Nairobi woman representative said.

Governor William Kabogo’s claim “someone” in Jubilee schemed his downfall in the Kiambu nominations has sparked speculation about a renewed feud with Deputy President William Ruto.

Kabogo on Tuesday evening said at a press briefing in Kiambu his defeat was plotted because “I am a threat to someone” and that Ruto and JP election officials did not address his concerns on planned nominations malpractices.

Last year, Kabogo sparked off a debate in Jubilee following his remarks the vote-rich Mt Kenya region will not automatically back Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.

Kabogo said on Monday, a day to the nominations, he went to the JP headquarters at Pangani and handed a memorandum to Ruto, National Elections Board chairman Andrew Musangi and JP secretary general Raphael Tuju. In the memorandum, Kabogo demanded the presiding and returning officers in some polling stations be changed, alleging they were partisan and allied to his rival and Kabete MP Ferdinand Waititu.

“I pushed through, of course I am not a pushover, and managed to see the Deputy President and he promised me the presiding officers would be changed. Tuju and Musangi did not fix the mess but aggravated it. There are rumours that I’m a threat to someone. Someone does not want Kabogo as governor in next five years,” he said. Musangi confirmed to the Star Kabogo presented the memorandum, they discussed the issues and reached a consensus on how the exercise should be conducted.

“The Deputy President does not handle elections. We only had a joint discussion and agreed on a joint solution of monitoring the process and agents. There was nothing else to be solved. We were in agreement he sends agents to those polling stations to monitor the exercise,” he said.

The National Super Alliance has replicated the historic 2002 Narc unity that toppled the Kanu regime by announcing ODM leader Raila Odinga as the joint opposition presidential candidate.

Nearly half of NASA supporters agree with the flagbearer and his deputy named at Uhuru Park rally.

This was according to an Ipsos poll that was released yesterday.

ODM leader Raila Odinga was named as the National Super Alliance flagbearer. Raila will face off President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee with Kalonzo Musyoka as his running mate.

NASA brings together Raila, Musalia Mudavadi (Amani), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya) and Isaac Rutto (CCM).

According to the poll, 49 per cent of the voters support Raila-Kalonzo leadership, while 55 per cent expected it.

But fewer identified this pair as their preferred paired-choice rated at 34 per cent. Only seven per cent expected a Raila-Mudavadi leadership, with eight per cent preferring it.

Seven per cent of the supporters preferred a Kalonzo-Raila leadership while four per cent expected it.

Nine per cent of the voters preferred a Kalonzo-Mudavadi leadership, while four per cent expected that they would be named as the leaders.

Two per cent of the supporters expected and preferred Mudavadi-Raila leadership, while one per cent expected a Kalonzo-Wetang’ula leadership with two per cent preferring it.

Expectations about the Nasa presidential ticket among Jubilee supporters was different.

Twenty five per cent of Jubilee supporters preferred the Raila-Kalonzo combination.

The only possible combination that receives more support from Jubilee than from Nasa supporters is that of a Kalonzo-Mudavadi ticket rated at 14 per cent verses six per cent.

Regarding expectations of NASA unity moving forward, slightly over one-third {38%} feel it is certain.

But Nasa supporters are far more confident than those in Jubilee.

This was rated at 58 per cent against that of Jubilee rated at 23 per cent.

“Still the fact that just more than half of the former have such certainty suggests the uncertainty that the NASA leadership will have to overcome as the campaign period approaches ahead of the August election itself,” the poll read.

According to the poll, slightly fewer than half of all Kenyans rated at 44 per cent were able to spontaneously mention Governor Isaac Rutto as the “most important political leader” who recently joined NASA.

In regional terms, this figure ranges from a high in Nairobi {54%} to a low in Eastern {30 per cent}.

The target population for this survey was Kenyans aged 18 years and above living in urban and rural areas.

In regional terms, this figure ranges from a high in Nairobi {54%} to a low in Eastern {30 per cent}.

The target population for this survey was Kenyans aged 18 years and above living in urban and rural areas.

The achieve sample was 2,413 in 47 counties with a margin-of-error of +/- 1.99 and a 95% confidence level.

The poll was conducted on April 24th - 26th, 2017.

A cook in Kericho county on Wednesday pulled a surprise to win the Jubilee Party ticket for Waldai ward in Belgut constituency.

In Kiambu where mechanic Cyrus Omondi, popularly known as Gearbox, was elected.

Thirty-five year old Gearbox was elected MCA in Kiambu county for the Kahawa Wendani ward.

The 35-year-old is a father of two whose first sojourn into politics was in 2006. He was the chair of the Kawaha youth initiative called GAFFE. While at the helm, his pet project was tackling insecurity.

Daniel Ng’etich(pictured), who has been a cook for seven years at Sosiot Girls Secondary School, won with 2,250 votes against the incumbent MCA John Too, who managed 1,300.

Nge’tich was described as a humble and fervent prayer warrior. He told the Star he is happy the people of Waldai ward nominated him. “It is the love of the people that saw me win the ticket. I had nothing in my account to run a well-oiled campaign machine,” Nge’tich told the Star on the phone.

The diploma holder in Business Technology said “there is hope and no one should give up on their dreams”.

“I have been a cook for all these years but in me I had that calling that one day I will serve the people in a public office. God has opened that door and I am ready,” he said.

The father of two said he will prioritise development projects, education, roads and health.

His leadership style will be driven by consultation.

“I want to breathe new hope in the leadership of Waldai. I will open the doors and consult widely with the people so that the projects we are undertaking help the people,” Nge’tich said.

He will give priority to youth empowerment and women by initiating projects tailored to create jobs for the two groups.

During his early years, Ng’etich preached in local churches and was also a famous Sunday school teacher in vocation Bible schools. He is a member of the Cheribo African Gospel Church.

In July 2016: The Star exclusively reported that Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi was reaching out to ODM leader Raila Odinga, Ford Kenya boss Moses Wetang'ula and Wiper chief Kalonzo Musyoka for the formation of a supper alliance to face Jubilee.

October 10: Star reported that talks between Mudavadi, Raila, Wetang'ula and Kalonzo were making progress for the formation of the alliance.

October 20: Star reported that Raila, Kalonzo, Wetang'ula and Mudavadi were preparing to sign a pre-election agreement. Star reported that Raila was scheduled to meet several close allies to discuss the super alliance.

January: Star reported that NASA leaders were discussing the framework for the registration of NASA as a coalition.

February 8: Star reported how NASA was planning to share power, revealing that the coalition had agreed to work within the Constitution and will not, as suggested earlier, create positions of Prime Minister and two deputies .

April 6: The Star reported that NASA technical committee had settled on Raila as the presidential candidate and Kalonzo as running mate.

April 13: Star reported how Kalonzo and Mudavadi held a one-and-a-half hour private meeting amid a storm on who will be NASA flagbearer.

April 14: Star reported that naming of Raila as NASA flagbearer was causing more heat in the coalition after it emerged that the former premier had late last year reportedly promised Mudavadi the NASA presidential ticket. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka would be the running mate and Raila would be Prime Minister.

April 17: the Star reported that Mudavadi, Kalonzo and Wetang'ula had joined forced against Raila. Star reported that NASA’s Coastal retreat to name the presidential flag bearer had collapsed in disarray after the three complained that the said selection was biased in favour of Raila.

April 24: the Star reported that Kalonzo was pushing Raila hard for the NASA ticket and Mudavadi as running mate.

April 27: the Star reported on how NASA principals had finally agreed that it will be Raila as NASA flagbearer, Kalonzo as deputy and the posts the other three will get.

This structure was unveiled yesterday.

National Assembly minority leader Francis Nyenze has said the NASA line up announced on Thursday is a raw deal for the people of Kamba.

ODM leader Raila Odinga was named as the National Super Alliance flag bearer.

Raila will face off President Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee with Kalonzo Musyoka as his running mate.

NASA brings together Raila, Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (Amani), Moses Wetang'ula (Ford Kenya), and Isaac Rutto (CCM).

But addressing the media on Friday, Nyenze said the coalition should have respected the MoU signed between Raila and Kalonzo in 2014 before naming Raila the flag bearer.

"In my own opinion the Kamba nation got a raw deal and we do not want anybody to take Kamba's for a ride," Nyenze said.

Nyenze said "new people" were brought into the coalition to circumvent the whole process.

"It would be a very difficult task to convince the Kamba nation to be the second fiddle in 2017," he said.

He claimed that the committee tasked with selecting the NASA flag-bearer had selected Kalonzo up to the last minute.

"I was in the team and up to the last minute, Kalonzo was the flag bearer. How it changed we still do not know. We were all taken aback," he said.

Nyenze said the Wiper party leader should talk to them before they take any other action.

"We need to talk and decide on a way forward. We cannot assume that our people will follow the instructions.They have to know why they should vote for NASA." he said.

"If I don't fight for the Kamba nation who will?"

Under the arrangement, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi is proposed to take up the position of Premier Cabinet Secretary as earlier reported by The Star.

This will be created after the election in the event of NASA victory. Under the Premier CS will be two powerful deputies of equal rank.

Rutto will be in charge of the State Department of Devolution and Planning.

The other deputy in charge of Public Service will go to Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya party.

Read: How Wetangula, Rutto made Raila the Nasa flagbearer

The announcement of the August 8 polls team was made at Uhuru Park on Thursday by Mudavadi.

The principals have been under pressure to name the person who will battle it out with Uhuru.

[VIDEO] Raila named NASA flag bearer, Kalonzo deputy in August poll line up

Bishop Margaret Wanjiru was on Thursday night admitted at the Nairobi Hospital.

Sources at the hospital said Wanjiru was admitted after falling ill, but the source did not disclose the nature of the disease.

"It is not clear what she is suffering from but she was brought here on Thursday at 11pm," the source told the Star on Friday.

Wanjiru was arrested on Wednesday and detained for five days after being charged with malicious damage to property and creating disturbance.

But early Thursday, Wanjiru asked the court to allow her to be detained at the police cells so she can access her medication.

She was taken to Kileleshwa police station and asked to provide the medical documents to prove that she was not feeling well.

Read: Bishop Wanjiru charged with malicious damage, creating disturbance at Jubilee polls

[VIDEO] Bishop Wanjiru arrested after storming City Park polling station

Separately, Kiambu governor William Kabogo was also spotted at the hospital.

He was driven in a black range rover sport KBV 001A with two security details. It is not clear why he was at the premises.

The Kamba are grumbling while the Luhya appear to be the biggest beneficiaries in the new NASA lineup.

On Thursday a NASA rally in Uhuru Park unveiled Raila Odinga of ODM as its presidential candidate with Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper as his running mate.

Raila has confirmed that he will only be remain for one term as president if elected.

Raila will be a one term “transitional” president after he signed off an agreement that states, “In the event of renewal of the Coalition Agreement as contemplated in paragraph (1) of this Article, the Coalition’s Presidential candidate in the August 2017 elections shall not be eligible for nomination as a presidential candidate for the Coalition."

Furthermore ODM will not produce NASA's candidate in 2022.

“The Coalition’s Presidential candidate in the renewed Coalition shall be from a party other than the party of the candidate referred to in paragraph (2) of this (above) Article”, the NASA agreement states.

As Deputy President, Kalonzo would be first in line to take over in 2022. However Wiper leaders yesterday argued that the Kamba community got raw deal.

Kitui West MP and National Assembly Minority Leader Francis Nyenze and Kitui Senator David Musila said all Kamba MPs must be consulted and assured that their community  will benefit if Nasa wins in August.

Nyenze said he led the Wiper negotiating team and Kalonzo was supposed to be the Nasa presidential candidate until Wednesday night.

“I was in the negotiation team and until the end Kalonzo was the flagbearer. We need to know how that changed. We need to consult because this came as a shocker. We can’t pretend things are okay,” Nyenze said at Parliament yesterday.

Nyenze said they suspected foul play and that is why they did not attend the Uhuru Park rally.

“We protested yesterday by not attending the NASA rally. Even (Wiper luminary Johnstone ) Muthama was not there,” he said.

“All along he ( Kalonzo) told us he won’t play second fiddle.  People have been calling us asking what happened,” he said.

“Kamba got a raw deal. It will be very difficult to ask Kambas to play second fiddle again yet they did so in 2013. There is a lot of bad feelings to say the truth and ashame the devil,” he said.

Despite being the party leader, Musila quit Wiper on Thursday after losing the Kitui governor's race to incumbent Julius Malombe. He said he was not sure whether he could still support Wiper.

“We are not passing judgement if we are supporting or not supporting the lineup,” he said. He said Wiper MPs must be taken through the Nasa agreement.

“All our negotiators also seem not to know the context of the agreement,” he said.

Under the portfolio allocation the Luhya community is set to be the greatest beneficiary in NASA.

NASA founder and Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya leader Senator Moses Wetangula represent the two main Luhya sub-clans. As two of the five NASA principals, they will each be able to appoint four Cabinet Secretaries. The long lost Luhya unity may have been recovered.

“The community hasn’t had it this good since the days of Moi and Kibaki II when we were visible in government. We owe nobody an apology if we say we own NASA because it is our stepping stone to lost glory”, says Vihiga Constituency MP and ANC governor nominee Yusuf Chanzu.

Mudavadi takes the plum post, to be created, of Premier Cabinet Secretary and will wield immense powers as coordinator of government ministries and overseer of Cabinet.

Mudavadi will also hold the powerful Interior ministry portfolio. Symbolically Mudavadi read the main speech at the NASA launch and announced the line-up to the rally.

NASA has classified cabinet portfolios into Economic and Devolution clusters. Wetangula will be Deputy Premier Cabinet Secretary responsible for the Economic Affairs cluster and will have the Infrastructure ministry. Mudavadi will appoint the Food and Agriculture minister and Wetangula will appoint Energy.

The five principals will nominate the rest of the cabinet on the basis of “electoral performance determined by the votes cast for each party as a percentage of the votes cast for the coalition candidates in all elections”, says the agreement deposited with RPP.

“When I formed NASA, I never had ME in mind. I had WE in mind. I had YOU in mind. I had US in mind. And finally I had KENYA in mind. The NASA I have in mind is the one that will nab mediocrity, dishonesty, and arrest thieves of public resources. I see a Nasa of good governance that will frown on impunity by leaders. It is a NASA that will restore decency and humility as social and governance virtues”, Mudavadi said on Thursday.

Together with Wetangula, Mudavadi controls the Luhya, the largest ethnic voting bloc in NASA with 2.6 million voters, second only to to the Kikuyu bloc. 

Mudavadi's role as kingmaker may lead to even greater things.

“People forget Uhuru leaned over backwards in 2007 to accommodate Kibaki but came back and rode to victory in 2013. Come 2022, Mudavadi will take his rightful place at the head of NASA. He will be unstoppable”, said Wasai Nanjakululu, a political commentator. 

Wasai says it will be difficult to convince the Luhya to quit NASA for a mirage in the Jubilee stable that is locked up until 2032 if Deputy President William Ruto becomes President in 2022.

“There is nothing for the community in Jubilee which has waged economic warfare on them. The economy of the region has gone to the dogs since Jubilee took over. There was the PR at reviving Mumias which is now on its death bed. Then followed the con of reviving the Sh18 billion worth Pan Paper after selling it for only Sh900 million to a well-connected political family’, adds Cleophas Malala, ANC Kakamega senatorial candidate.

Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth has rejected the Nairobi governor's results saying the nomination was not free and fair.

"I disassociate myself from the sham election that Jubilee Party purported to have and demand the same elections be nullified," he said in a statement on Thursday.

As of Wednesday night, his competitor Mike Sonko was in the lead.

In Langata constituency, Sonko garnered 7,727 against Kenneth who got 2,431. The vote counting is still ongoing with results showing Sonko may be headed to a landslide win.

The two are in the race to unseat Nairobi governor Evans Kidero in August polls.

Kenneth called for a repeat of the nominations adding that Jubilee Party only indicated on the eve of the elections that the voting would be on the basis of an identity card.

The party said they had received reports that there were people who infiltrated Nairobi primaries.

Elections board chairman Andrew Musangi said this was the reason most people could not find their names in the registers.

More on this: Infiltration of 'outsiders' cause of names missing in Jubilee registers - official

Kenneth said after the announcements by the party many constituencies did not have the party registers as indicated.

"...and they continued the use of IDs. When the register was introduced halfway voting, many voters who were registered party members had their names missing," he said.

The Nairobi Governor aspirant had asked Jubilee Party election officials to address the 'few irregularities' in the ongoing nominations.

"It is important to note that there are hiccups and I think the party should address them," he told journalists after casting his vote at Bidii primary school.

Kenneth complained that some people were allowed to vote despite their names missing in the registers while others were denied the chance.

Read: Address irregularities in Nairobi nominations, Kenneth asks Jubilee poll officials

Kenneth further said the presiding officers used a marker instead of indelible ink which he said was easily washed off.

"This facilitated multiple voting. There were also cases of a massive number of voters imported from Kajiado and Machakos counties," he said.

He claimed the voters were transported to vote throughout the county with their IDs.

"The trend in various polling stations indicated that there was a scheme to transport a particular organised group to vote," he said.

Noting that there was bribery during the nominations, Kenneth said a number of polling stations were opened late and closed early.

"There were cases of outright bribery by some of the candidates outside polling stations to alter the true voting outcome," he said.