ODM Primaries in limbo as two MPs snatch poll materials

The ongoing Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) elections in Homa Bay County have been thrown into disarray after two MPs raided the county elections office and took away poll materials.

Police said Kasipul MP Joseph Oyugi Magwanga and his Kabondo Kasipul counterpart Sylvance Osele stormed the ACK guest house on Sunday night and snatched the voting materials.

The MPs were accompanied by more than 200 armed youth, police said Monday.

County police commander John Omusanga Omusanga said officers who were posted at the centre at the request of ODM had to restrain themselves from confronting the youth to avoid blood bath.

“Mr Magwanga and Mr Osele led the youth to raid the guesthouse. My officers could not shoot at the rowdy group because this could have triggered a blood bath,” said Mr Omusanga. He said the youth returned the election materials just before 5pm following orders from a senior ODM election official.

Mr Omusanga expressed shock that no official from the party’s county election board has recorded statements with them in connection with the incident.

“We expected that the ODM officials could have reported the incident by morning to enable us take action,” Mr Omusanga said.

One of the two candidates for the post of chairman Mr Peter Kaluma Monday protested the raid and demanded the nullification of the election in Kasipul and Rangwe constituencies.

In a letter dated November 30, addressed to the National Election Board commissioner for Nyanza Peter Odoyo, Mr Kaluma demanded that elections proceed by queuing or consensus.

PROCESS COMPROMISED
He said the election materials have been interfered with and should therefore not be used.

“We demand that action be taken against Mr Magwanga and Mr Osele for such gross misconduct,” Mr Kaluma added.

In another letter dated November 29, to the County Elections Board, Mr Kaluma claims no elections took place in Gem East, Gem West and Kagan Wards and that the lists that were presented were prepared elsewhere.

“In Kagan Ward, the presiding officer is a husband to one of those running for the post of sub-county chairperson,” he added.

There is confusion in many wards following the existence of two parallel lists of delegates, one for Mr Kaluma and another one for Woman Representative Gladys Wanga. Mr Kaluma and Ms Wanga are fighting for the position of county chairperson.

The situation has been compounded further by claims that some returning officers have been compromised.

Those the Nation talked to said a section of the returning officers are biased and lack the requisite independence to preside over free and fair elections.