From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2013

If we go by what Standard has just reported few minutes ago that ODM risks massive petitions over the controversial party primaries in its Nyanza strongholds, particularly in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties, where it emerged that consensus was used in some areas to pick candidates then this is very absurd indeed.

In some areas, especially in Kisumu, Migori, and Homa Bay counties where former MP Shakeel Shabbir who claimed to have won the Kisumu East ODM ticket, the returning officer could not be reached to announce the results.

In Homa Bay County the story is even shocking. Returning Officer John Mulehi was forced to agree to have former Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang’ as the Senate ODM flag bearer, Philip Okundi (Governor), and Roselyne Onyuka (Women Representative).

“We agreed on consensus and the party head office allowed us to file the results,” Mulehi told The Standard on Sunday. The closed-door consensus meeting was allegedly attended by former MPs Augustino Neto, Millie Odhiambo, John Mbadi, candidates who won the ODM ticket for various seats, Ongondo Were, Silvan Osele, Everest Okambo, and Judith Omogi.

Mulehi who had been roughed up by voters on Thursday afternoon released the results in Migori constituency instead of Homa Bay.

This is similar story where in 2007 ODM nominations that were defeated were issued with party certificate of clearance. Prof Patrick Ayiecho Olweny despite having deployed violent tactics on the polling day was defeated by a large margin of over 1000 votes, yet he was issued with certificate. Olweny had polled 7840 votes against the winner Mr. Joseph Omulo Okal’s 8494 votes.

When Okal the winner visited the party head office in Nairobi on Monday morning to collect his victory certificate, he was shocked when he was told that the former MP Prof Ayiecho Olweny had already been issued with one in a mysterious circumstance.

Winners of the nomination were short-changed in Gem, Ugenya, Nyakach, Kasipul- Kabondo, Kisumu Town East, Kitutu Masaba, Kitutu Chache, Konoin, Kipkellion and Ainamoi.

In Kisumu Rural, where Prof. Anyang Nyong’o faced imminent defeat, he was given “direct nomination” in a move which ignited violent protests and riots. The situation was even (more) grave in Mbita where a prospective candidate and the people’s choice, Sam Wakiaga, was coerced and forced out of the manipulated and fraudulent primaries in order to give way to Otieno Kajwang.

Justice was only seen where voters violently resisted imposed nominees. This include Rangwe where an attempt to return Eng. Philip Okundi was resisted and in Alego Usonga where voters firmly rejected Jackline Oduol.

Philip Okundi who was rejected by the people of Rangwe is now being awarded governor seat. Areas like Ugenya, Mbita, Bondo and Kisumu Rural where voters never resisted ODM succeeded to impose their hirelings on the electorate.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
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Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002