Two ODM leaders in Busia and
another in Bungoma county are
nursing injuries following chaos and
confusion that rocked the party’s
primaries that kicked off yesterday.
Despite tough talk by party
honchos to rein in violence, Busia
sub-branch treasurer David Otini and
Angurai South ward chairman Joseph
Okware were beaten by goons.
The ODM secretary for Webuye
sub-branch was also hospitalised
after being assaulted for allegedly
favouring a particular candidate.
The primaries are a do-or-die for
opposition chief Raila Odinga’s key
allies and is promising to end the
careers of some of the big names in
the Kenyan political landscape.
In Busia, Governor Sospeter
Ojaamong is fighting it out with
outgoing Funyula MP Paul Otuoma.
In Teso South, the names of two
parliamentary aspirants, Jeff Osiba
and Geoffrey Omuse were missing
from the ballot papers, heightening
suspicion. The party primaries started
almost four hours late.
Ernest Wekesa and Julian Okware
of Township and Musikoma wards
respectively in Kanduyi constituency
also had their names missing from
ballot papers.
“We submitted everything,
including paying the nomination
fees, and now our names are not on
this ballot papers,” Okware protested.
The two said they used a lot of
money to campaign and demanded
the election board refund their cash.
The duo said ODM had shown its
nominations were not going to be
free and fair and threatened to ditch
the party.
At Kakapel and Rwatama polling
stations in Busia county, voting was
temporarily stopped following claims
of interference.
Riot police were called in to
contain the situation.
County assembly deputy speaker
Moses Ote and his challenger Grace
Omasete are pointing accusing
fingers at each other for the
confusion.
One of the MP aspirants has also
been named in the mess at Kekalet
polling station.
Busia has seven constituencies
- Teso North and South, Nambale,
Matayos, Butula, Funyula and
Budalang’i.
The ODM ticket is fiercely sought
in all constituencies including
Budalang’i, the backyard of ex-ODM
secretary general Ababu Namwamba.
There was confusion at Township
Primary School, where Busia
Governor Sospeter Ojaamong cast
his vote at 10.30am.
Speaking to the press, he said the
delay and confusion has dampened
the spirits of many voters.
“The mixup in names on the ballot
papers has also done the exercise
more harm than good,” Ojaamong
said.
In Kanduyi, there was confusion as
to whether to use the IEBC register.
Youths engaged in fistfights at the
Moi Educational Centre after some
were blocked from voting.
Police were forced to intervene as
they engaged the youths in running
battles.
The Pamus Teachers’ College
polling station was closed after the
owner said he had not been informed
of the exercise. The station is gazetted.
Party members were forced to
open a new voting centre at a nearby
home.
Kanduyi MP aspirant John Makali
Busia Governor
Sospeter
Ojaamong
and his wife
Judy cast their
votes at Busia
Township
Primary School
yesterday
cast doubts on the entire exercise
saying the party headquarters had
failed.
“There has generally been a lot of
confusion on the register to use and
the delivery of materials. In some
cases, aspirants have been forced to
transport the materials,” he said.
Lawyer Edwin Sifuna and
Kanduyi MP aspirant said there
were irregularities in many polling
stations.
ODM commissioner Norah Owino
downplayed the complaints, saying
everything had been done properly.
“Apart from a few hitches, we have
ensured the exercise is a successes,”
she said.
According to the party’s National
Elections Board, the nominations
for Kakamega, Samburu and Narok
counties will take place tomorrow,
while that of Taita Taveta, Kajiado,
Trans Nzoia and Nakuru counties
will be on Tuesday next week.
The board has said the mode of
election will be strictly secret ballot.
The Jubilee Party has cleared 7,893
aspirants to contest various seats in
its primaries set for next Friday.
The party’s primaries will be
conducted on one day.