ODM nominee wins Siaya governor’s seat
Siaya County Governor-elect Cornel Rasanga is carried shoulder high by his supporters as they celebrate his victory. The ODM’s candidate won in a closely contested race which pitted him against National Agenda Party of Kenya’s William Oduol. He won by nine thousand and one votes. PHOTO WILLIAM OERI
What you need to know:
- Armed police protect returning officer as chaos hits tallying centre
ODM’s Cornel Rasanga was on Tuesday declared Governor-elect of Siaya County after a closely contested race with National Agenda Party of Kenya’s William Oduol.
Mr Rasanga garnered 142,901 votes against Mr Oduol’s 133,900.
The outcome was part of results from the six constituencies in Siaya County.
Returning officer Benson Mugatsia had to announce the results under armed guard as a highly charged crowd threatened to stop further announcements, accusing officers from Gem and Bondo of conniving to rig.
Gem returning officer Juma Mugwanga and his Bondo counterpart Rose Obari had to be escorted out of the tallying hall by armed police officers.
The tallying hall was chaotic throughout Tuesday night as Mr Oduol and his supporters rejected results from Rarieda, Bondo and Gem.
“We had agreed that results from Rarieda and Gem could not be announced as they had not been countersigned by our agents,” said Mr Oduol’s lawyer, Mr Odhiambo Wakla.
Mr Oduol said he would contest the results in court as there were “massive irregularities and manipulation”.
Mr Rasanga was handed a direct nomination after Mr Oduol and Finance assistant minister Oburu Oginga were disqualified following chaotic ODM primaries.
Omong those who were declared winners was Lands minister James Orengo, who won the senate seat against Ms Agnes Salome Awuor.
Former Maseno University lecturer Christine Ombaka trounced Concellia Ondiek for the women’s representative post while former Alego-Usonga MP Edwin Yinda lost the seat to Mr George Omondi Mulwan.
ODM whip Jakoyo Midiwo was re-elected in his Gem constituency.
