Homa Bay ODM officials now picked by consensus

What you need to know:

  • Migori County has eight constituencies — Suna East, Suna West, Nyatike, Rongo, Uriri, Awendo, Kuria East and Kuria West.
  • It took hours for the grassroots leaders to agree on the names, as the consensus bid began at 10am and ended at 5pm.
  • MPs from the region who included Mr Edick Anyanga (Nyatike), Mr John Kobado (Uriri), Mr Joseph Ndiege (Suna West) and Migori Woman Representative Denittah Ghati, took part in the talks.

ODM Migori branch finally picked its officials under tight security on Tuesday.

The eight new office bearers were chosen by consensus, after violence rocked parallel elections in which three people died on Monday.

Each of the eight constituencies submitted one name to the National Elections Board member, Mr Peter Odoyo.

Migori County has eight constituencies — Suna East, Suna West, Nyatike, Rongo, Uriri, Awendo, Kuria East and Kuria West.

It took hours for the grassroots leaders to agree on the names, as the consensus bid began at 10am and ended at 5pm.

This is after it emerged that some constituencies had two different lists.

Mr Odoyo, a former Nyakach MP, appealed to the delegates with conflicting lists to harmonise them.

MPs from the region who included Mr Edick Anyanga (Nyatike), Mr John Kobado (Uriri), Mr Joseph Ndiege (Suna West) and Migori Woman Representative Denittah Ghati, took part in the talks.

Awendo MP Jared Kopiyo had earlier attempted to enter the venue of the elections at Migori School of Guidance and Counselling, but was blocked by rowdy youths who said he was not an ODM member.

The lawmaker was elected on a Ford Kenya ticket in the last General Election.

Contingents of Regular and Administration Police under the command of the county police boss, Mr David Kirui, secured the venue from as early as 6am. Delegates were only allowed in after vetting.

TEARGAS AND BATONS

Officers left nothing to chance after the deaths that occurred in Rongo and Awendo sub-counties. The officers were armed with AK47 rifles, batons and teargas canisters.

Mr Kirui lifted a ban on the election after ODM leaders promised to keep peace.

Mr Odoyo said police could not ban the branch election, and that members were ready to go ahead with it even without security.

Two people were arrested after they were found concealing machetes under their jackets.

At one point, women delegates protested bitterly over their exclusion from leadership positions.