Nyagarama wins Nyamira ODM ticket as rivals protest

Nyamira Governor John Nyagarama has won the ODM ticket in controversial nominations marred by protests from his two competitors.

Mr Nyagarama garnered 17,487 votes against James Gesami and John Kumenda, who got 12,126 and 939, respectively.

Returning officer Thaddeus Nyachwaya announced the results at the Kebirigo tallying centre without figures from six polling centres that had not come in by 6am.

“Results we received from 78 centres [are] substantial in determining a winner. Figures from the six polling centres which we did not get will not make any [difference]," Nyachwaya said.

Dr Gesami boycotted the elections, saying he could not participate in a flawed nomination process.

He claimed his agents from Mr Nyagarama’s strongholds were chased away.

"The registers used were not genuine and in many polling centres, elections did not take off. I have pulled out of this flawed nomination process and I will seek redress elsewhere," he told the returning officer on Tuesday evening as he protested the way the nominations were conducted.

NO VOTING

His sentiments were shared by the other aspirant, Dr Kumenda, who claimed that voting did not take place at many polling centres in Kitutu Masaba, his home turf.

"I was unable to vote for myself since no register was [provided] at my polling centre," he said.

Elections at a number of polling centres, such as Nyamira Primary School, continued on Tuesday night despite a heavy downpour in the area.

Polling was slow as clerks strained to find the names of voters in registers that had tiny fonts.

In addition, there was no consistency in the way the registers were used, as some centres used only the IEBC list while others used the ODM one, and yet others used both.

Only West Mugirango constituency conducted parliamentary nominations.

Julius Matwere was declared the winner after receiving 1,207 votes against Peter Omboga (906), Dennis Anyoka (886) and Polycarp Orero (147).