ODM puts Taita Taveta primaries on hold after petition by aspirant

Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu during ODM rally at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa. /JOHN CHESOLI
Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu during ODM rally at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa. /JOHN CHESOLI

ODM's National Elections Board has put on hold Taita Taveta primaries scheduled to take place on Saturday.

Director of communication Philip Etale said nominations at the five polling stations will not take place until a petition by one of the aspirants against the decision is heard and determined.

The party had put on hold the announcement of nomination results for the county until after five polling stations conduct exercise.

Provisional results had shown that incumbent Governor John Mruttu had lost to National Assembly minority whip Thomas Mwadeghu.

Mwadeghu garnered 17,567 votes against Mruttu's 14,817 to clinch the party's ticket ahead of the August 8 general election.

Returning officer Lawrence Sampele announced the totals on Wednesday but did not give a breakdown.

But NEB chair Judy Pareno said on Friday that the matter is under investigations and will await the decision by the National Disputes and Resolution board before making the final decision.

The party's disciplinary committee has also summoned a Catholic priest and five aspirants over violence that has marred party primaries countrywide.

They are expected at Orange House on Saturday at 2pm, committee chair Fred Athuok said in a press statement on Friday.

They are Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno, Nyamira Governor Okoth Obado, Alego Usonga MP aspirant Samuel Atandi and MCA aspirant for Chevaywa Ward of Likuyani constituency Barasa Wambulwa.

Others are the Vicar general of Rakwaro Catholic church Father Richard, and ODM Migori County coordinating committee chairman Phillip Makabongo.

Cases of violence that were witnessed in some polling stations last week and on Tuesday during ODM nominations resulted in the party calling for repeat voting in the affected counties.

The party also pushed forward voting in some counties to address the issues are believed to have ignited the violence like insufficient ballot papers and late arrival of ballot papers in some polling stations.


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