Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Bulls’ turn to watch candidates lock horns

Dr Boni Khalwale has been the face of cattle regularly locking horns in Ikolomani constituency. Photo/FILE
Dr Boni Khalwale has been the face of cattle regularly locking horns in Ikolomani constituency. Photo/FILE
By DANIEL OTIENO AND BENSON AMADALA
Posted  Monday, May 23 2011 at 18:48

Ikolomani constituency might have catapulted the bull fighting into the national limelight but Monday was a day for a different fight.
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Dr Boni Khalwale, the area MP for eight years, has been the face of cattle regularly locking horns and on Monday sought to win a tough duel.
Voters made long queues at polling stations from as early as 6am to cast their ballots in a show of political might between Dr Khalwale and ODM’s Mr Bernard Shinali.
Some of the elderly voters leaned on walking sticks while the not-too-well were brought in on wheelbarrows.
On Monday, truck-loads of policemen patrolled the constituency after several incidences marred campaigns.
A few who had registered more than once and those suspected to be bribing voters were arrested and whenever police were not looking, roughed up by other voters keen to ensure a free and fair poll.
Eleven people who had registered more than once and turned up at polling stations were arrested and later charged in court.
The anxiety of the 2012 General Election loomed large, with those opposed to Dr Khalwale claiming the arrests were evidence of a plot against ODM.
Western provincial police officer, Mr Benson Kibui, said police officers were at polling stations to stop any voter bribery.
At Shimanyiro market, a woman who was said to be inducing voters with cash was cornered by two motorcyclists who snatched the handbag containing the cash and sped off.
By 1pm, 14,818 voters, out of the 35,833 representing 41.8 per cent of the registered voters had cast their ballots according to commissioner Tiyah Galgalo Ali of the Interim Independent Electoral Commission.
“So far things are progressing well despite allegations of voter bribery and isolated incidents of violence,” he said.
At Musoli market, a group of ODM monitors roughed up supporters of Dr Khalwale whom they accused of bribing voters and trying to influence them to back the New Ford Kenya candidate.
A heavy downpour that lasted two hours in the afternoon slowed down the voting, as most roads were rendered impassable.
Dr Khalwale had earlier on declared he would be running for the senator of Kakamega County, adding that the polls were a defining moment in his political career.
“If I don’t win today’s (Monday) by-election, I would have put my political career on the line because next year I will be going a for a bigger position,” he said.
Dr Khalwale said the by-election would also determine the destiny of the Luhya community in national politics, arguing that a win for the ODM candidate would signal that Raila Odinga still had a political grip on the region.
Dr Khalwale lost the seat after eight years following an election petition by ODM candidate Bernard Shinali. (READ: Kenya MP loses seat)
On Monday, Mr Shinali said he was confident of “reclaiming a victory stolen in the 2007 General Election”. He decried cases of voter bribery and intimidation that marred the campaigns.
He said he had reported several incidents that took place on Sunday night where some residents were attacked.
Area returning officer Benjamin Tarus said that while some stations especially in the strongholds of some politicians had registered many voters, others saw a handful of people in the lines as at 7am.
ODM’s Mr Shinali cast his vote at Lirhembe Primary School polling station at 6.30am and Dr Khalwale at Malinya Primary School at 7am.
Ford people candidate Dr Matemba was yet to cast his vote by 8am at his polling station at Ivonda Primary School.
The Interim Independent Electoral Commission had indicated that 389 people had registered more than once as voters in the constituency.
The electoral body also warned that should any of them attempt to vote, they would be arrested. The area has 63 polling stations and 35,833 registered voters.

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