A defaced perimeter wall. Residents are threatening to sue politicians defacing their premises. [Photo: Njeri Kimani]
Shabab politicians risk going to court over seeking to appeal to voters by writing on residents’ walls.
Irate residents claim that the politicians were ruining their private property by painting their names on walls in bid to woo supporters.A spot check in the area indicates of writings reading “Captain for MCA, Kitilit for MP, Ngatia For MP, Waithiai For MCA” plastered all over fences and walls in many of the estate in their latest publicity stunts.The newly constructed walls in Mama Ngina and Koinange Primary School by the incumbent Samuel Arama were not spared, with politicians defacing it with appeals for votes barely nine months after its completion. Tanners Industries, one of the biggest tanning factories in Kenya, is also plastered with the messages by aspirants.Residents claim that this was often done by goons late in the night and often discovered when they woke up.“By the time I was going to sleep my walls were clean, only to wake up in the morning and see campaign messages written on them,” said Peter Muchiri.They are now demanding that the candidates clear the walls before going for nominations, pointing out that in case they lost they will ignore their plight.“We are planning to seek the court intervention, the IEBC and the Political Parties seeking to have them barred from the nominations for the destruction of private property,” said Geoffrey Kinyanjui, the chairman of Shabab Residents Association.Kinyanjui added that most of the people who were vying were interlinked to the writers, pointing out that it was a sign of disrespect to the dwellers.“All they care about is getting their seat. They do not think about the effect their careless actions will have in future,” he added.Nakuru Environmental Activist Emily Mwangi also wants the government to take action against such politicians.“Not only are they defacing the ward but they are also writing with toxic materials which are cancerous in nature,” she added.Contacted, the aspirants declined to comment on the issue saying it would affect their votes.