It was the break of dawn in Lodwar town on a warm Tuesday. Long queues were seen as Turkana pastoralists line up to vote for their leaders of choice.
Thousands of pastoralists, dressed in Loruanta sheets and holding their seats (Ekicholong) and sticks (Aburo), queued to vote for Lodwar livestock market leaders.
The elections were conducted by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials who lauded the residents saying the voter turnout was great at 94 per cent and called it a free and fair poll.
Returning officer Danson Ngitelejo who was in charge of the Livestock Marketing Council elections said the five positions contested included chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, vice secretary and treasurer.
Ngitelejo announced Lucas Etiir as the elected chairperson after garnering 353 votes while his opponent Esurut Ekuwom got 340 votes.
The Lodwar Livestock Marketing Council, which has 49 livestock markets in the county, has about 1,000 registered members however, 693 members turned up for voting.
“The vice-chairperson elected, Eyanae Lopuskidima garnered 361 votes, secretary elected Lorogoi Eyanae garnered 360 votes, vice secretary elected Christopher Ekuwom garnered 355 votes and treasurer elected Edoket Ekeno garnered 353 votes,” Ngitelejo announced.
Etiir thanked members for electing him and promised to help pastoralists access loans to boost business and also enable them to pay school fees for their children.
James Ekai, a pastoralist, thanked the IEBC for conducting free and fair elections which enabled them to vote in leaders of their choice and address their issues at the livestock market.
“We wanted to elect somebody who can listen to our views and help us. The elections have been free and fair, we thank the IEBC for conducting the process. With the new team now in charge, we expect our challenges of high levy to be addressed and we also want to access loans,” he said.
-Edited by Sarah Kanyara
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