Moses Kajwang’ was Thursday elected Homa Bay senator in a landslide victory that affirmed Cord leader Raila Odinga’s continued dominance in the region.
Kajwang’ now succeeds his brother Otieno, who died in November. Kajwang took the seat with 127,370, votes against his closest challenger, Philip Okundi of the Maendelo Party, who was trailing with only 27,671 votes.
Six other candidates who contested the seat were Fred Rabongo of the National Agenda Party who garnered 2,829 votes, Bernard Owuor Otieno of the National Vision Party who got 1,333 votes, Hillary Alila an independent candidate who got 525 votes, Professor Luke Misama an independent candidate who got 305 votes, Edwin Matete, also an independent got 302 votes, and Innocent Masara who garnered 275 votes.
The campaign for the seat was billed as a proxy fight between Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and Raila, who has dominated the region’s politics for years.
A high-powered delegation of ODM lawmakers pitched tent in the region and accused Kajwang’s rivals of bribing voters to swing the outcome.
“Some of our opponents are engaged in voter bribery, the Maendeleo Democratic Party candidate is dishing out cash to the electorate and we ask the IEBC to be on the alert to ensure necessary action is taken against such behaviour,” claimed Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o.
Okundi pointed an accusing finger at his opponents, claiming there were incidences of voter bribery in some areas, such as the Mfangano Islands in Suba.
He claimed that one of the candidates, whom he declined to name, planned an attack on one of his vehicles at South Kabwoch, Rangwe constituency.
“Due to the violence and voter bribery which have been witnessed today, the IEBC should disqualify the ODM candidate Moses Kajwang,” claimed Karachuonyo MP James Rege, a key supporter of Okundi’s.
Speaking to the press, Nyong’o appealed to security officers not to interfere with the electoral process. He claimed that some police officers in Suba coerced residents to vote in favour of one candidate.
“The police officers should let the electorate vote freely, as such incidents will compromise the integrity of the polls,” Nyong’o said. Nyong’o also pointed out that there were cases of a malfunctioning of biometric kits in some polling stations.
“There are incidences of system and equipment failure in some polling stations – for example the Msare Primary polling station in Suba constituency, and Kirongo polling station in Kagan, Rangwe constituency,” he said.
Missing names in the voter registers were also a problem he addressed, saying “Voters names are missing in some stations – for example the Kakelo polling station in Kasipul Kabondo”.
There was tight security throughout the county, especially in Homa Bay town, following the wave of campaign violence that had characterised the campaign period in the run-up to the by-election.