No exercise in three counties, confirms ODM

By Geoffrey Mosoku

Nyanza, Kenya: The ODM elections board on Sunday announced that its primaries were not conducted in three counties of Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori.

National Elections Board Chairman Franklin Bett said the exercise failed due to violence and hooliganism, which led to the destruction of ballot boxes.

Consequently, Mr Bett announced that the ODM leadership will have to look at other options in determining who will fly its flag in the various seats.

He, however, acknowledged that some polling stations within the three counties conducted successful polls and winners will be awarded certificates once the results have been verified.

“There were no elections in Kisumu, Homa Bay and Migori save for some few enclaves. The party leadership has now to relook at the events and find a way of getting a list of nominees,” Bett said.

Genuine results

When asked if Homa Bay Returning Officer John Mulehi who had announced the county results was genuine, minister Bett said he will have to authenticate the results and recognise them if they were done properly.

Bett also said the results of Oburu Odinga (Siaya governor) and Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem) petitions will be known today after a five-member National Appeals Board completes its arbitration.

“The appeals board has been instructed to expedite the petition and by dawn tomorrow (Monday), they will hand over the results to me and thereafter an announcement will be made,” he said.

The minister regretted the incidents of hooliganism that had been meted on their returning officers and called for future State allocation to fund nominations of parties.

Chaotic scenes have been witnessed in Nyando Constituency and Kisumu County on Saturday morning after voters disputed the ODM party nomination results.

In Ahero, Nyando Constituency, voters protested against the results.