Ms Wambui said the TNA certificate was issued to her rival in the primaries, Gichuki Mugambi, after he lodged a complaint with the party’s dispute resolution team.
At a news conference at her Lavington home in Nairobi, Ms Wambui blamed powerful forces in government for alleged interference saying the certificate was taken away from her unfairly.
Ms Wambui said she was given an interim certificate on being declared the winner on January 19 and asked to go for the original certificate in Nairobi.
“The people of Othaya spoke, and they chose me and their will should be respected. I even greeted my opponent and we agreed to work together. Unfortunately, I later learnt that he had been given the certificate," she said flanked by her daughter Winnie Wangui.
"There are powerful forces who do not want me to become MP for Othaya and the people have decided."
Ms Wangui said Jimmy Kibaki was among the powerful forces her mother was alluding to.
“Jimmy Kibaki does not work for government so there are other forces working with him to make sure Mama does not get the certificate even though she won,’’ she said.
The two appealed to TNA leader and Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene saying he has always said that everybody would be given a chance to participate in a free and fair nomination.
Ms Wambui said she would seek the court's intervention but she did not indicate when she intended to make the move.
Mr Mugambi told the Nation he was handed the ticket after successfully lodging a dispute citing massive irregularities during the nominations which saw Ms Wambui declared winner with 13,000 votes against Mr Gichuki’s 10,000.
“I received the certificate yesterday (Monday) after my complaints which I had lodged were investigated and addressed,’’ Mr Mugambi said.
However, Ms Wambui said she was not called before the dispute board for a hearing.
There has been bitter rivalry between Mr Gichuki, the chair of Othaya Development Association and Ms Wambui since December when President Kibaki’s son Jimmy, announced publicly that the latter was his father’s preferred candidate. - Daily Nation
