Councillor loses seat

Friday, 15 July 2011 00:10 BY JUSTUS OCHIENG

An ODM councillor for Kajulu East Ward in Kisumu yesterday lost his seat in a successful court petition. Gordon Bugo Awino, who won the seat on an ODM party ticket in a by-election in 2008, had his election as a councillor declared null and void by principal magistrate Paul Biwott of Kisumu law courts.

Delivering judgment yesterday afternoon, Biwott said the electoral process was marred by irregularities.  He said the election was not free and fair and that the returning officer abdicated his responsibility. Biwott told the court that Gordon Bugo, who was not present at the court, was not validly elected.

Bugo lost the seat through a court petition filed by Narc candidate Frank Ouma Olang’. Following the successful petition, Kisumu mayor Sam Okello got a boost in his quest to retain his mayoral seat as councillor Bugo was in opposition camp led by Kisumu North Ward Councilor James Oyolo. A section of councillors allied to Okello celebrated the move to have the election of Bugo nullified and boasted of a looming victory for Okello in the pending mayoral elections.