From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2013
If Kenyans were to take the advice of Eagle Coalition presidential aspirant Peter Kenneth seriously that they should not vote in the wrong leaders who have been imposed to them by party leaders, then they will not regret later.
Against the background that even though voters were crying foul that wrong leaders were imposed on them against the their wish, speculations spread across the country that certificates have already being issued to party preferred candidates.
That is why cases of violence and chaos were witnessed during nominations carried out by the, particularly Amani, CORD (Coalition for Reforms and Democracy) and Jubilee coalitions and other smaller parties. That is also why angry voters took to the street to protest against leaders who were imposed on them by top party leaders.
The ugly head of violence surfaced in several polling centres mostly in Eastlands in Nairobi, Kendu Bay, Siaya and Kisumu because these were the regions where voters complained bitterly they leaders were imposed on them.
In Kisumu for example, a returning officer was escorted by heavily armed security detail to Tom Mboya Labour College where he announced the Kisumu County nomination results against the wishes of voters.
He declined to identify himself but went ahead to read a list of results that he referred to as provisional, starting by declaring Shakeel Shabbir as the Kisumu East parliamentary nominee, and in Nyando, Kisumu West and Muhoroni, where voting was still going on at the time of announcement, former MPs Fred Outa, Olago Aluoch and Ayiecho Olweny were declared winners respectively.
Kisumu turned small hell when he announced that Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s sister, Ruth Odinga won the ODM governor nominee. Against background that ODM supporters began protesting. Earlier announcement and the preference of Kisumu voters had it that Jack Ranguma had clinched the governor ticket.
Similar sentiments were experienced in Homa Bay where Otieno Kajwang was announced to have won the senate seat, Eng. Philip Okundi as governor and in Siaya Raila’s elder brother Dr Oburu Odinga as governor, contrary to the wishes of voters.
Chaos began in Homa Bay shortly after returning officer Mr John Mulehi who was in the company of a fellow returning officer had just given the results to The Standard on the telephone when armed men walked into the hotel he was in.
Sources said the two officers were accosted by unknown men and forced into a waiting car before driving away. As the kidnappers in a convoy of seven cars left the premises as the police arrived, a few minutes later, Mulehi called saying he wanted to change the results he had given on phone, saying the ODM headquarters had asked him to do so.
“Please, help me. Change the results that had been given on consensus to the following: Cyprian Awiti 52,294 and Philip Okundi 15,370 for the governor seat, Gladys Wanga 61,793 and Roselyne Onyuka 12,545 women representative seat. For Kasipul Kabondo, change to Oyugi Magwanga 7,620 and Tom Okoko 2, 640,” he told the press.
Mulehi had earlier on indicated they agreed to have former Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang’ as the winner of the senate seat, Okundi (governor) and Onyuka (Women Representative), totally against the wish of voters.
In Kisumu County where Ayiecho Olweny Muhoroni MP (ODM), Fred Outa Nyando MP (ODM), and Olago Oluoch Kisumu West (ODM) were earlier announced that they were defeated, only to change later that they won, is why chaos erupted, especially in Nyando where voters say they are totally tired with their former MP Outa.
Similar chaos were experienced in Gem, Siaya County where Raila’s cousin Jakoyo Midiwo was announced defeated, only to learn later that he was in the ballot for March 4 general elections.
Other earlier results indicated that in Kisumu County Ochola Ogola (ODM) won for senator while Riala’s sister Ruth Odinga (ODM) won the seat for governor and Rose Nyamunga (ODM) for women rep. It means that these are the people who will be issued with party certificates if we are to go by speculation that these are the types of leaders ODM top organ wanted.
In Rift Valley, especially in Baringo County, tallying was halted for over four hours after URP aspirant for governor Simon Chelugui complained that votes from polling stations had been tampered with. While for voters Chelegui was the preferred candidate, for the party they had one in mind.
Chelugui lost in the nomination to former Higher Education and Loans Board Secretary Ben Cheboi. It was announced that Cheboi won the party’s ticket for governorship; Grace Kiptui won the women representative while Bishop Jackson Kosgey was nominated to fly the party’s senatorship flag.
In Parliamentary seat, Kanu nominated Leah Manyarkiy for Baringo Central, Gideon Moi for senator and Stanley Kiptis for governorship. In Kericho, there was fracas at the ODM offices when a member of county assembly aspirant stormed the building and tore the results, which were being compiled.
The same thing was also experienced in Nairobi where an aspirant for the Makongeni Ward was Sunday admitted to hospital after being hurt in a scuffle as he struggled to get his nomination certificate in vain.
Peter Imwatok who is aspiring to be the County representative for the Makongeni Ward on ODM ticket was injured in a scuffle outside the residence of outgoing Nairobi mayor George Aladwa where he was waiting to be awarded his nomination certificate.
Some of the preferred aspirants by top party organs issued certificates even after the IEBC issued a statement notifing members of the political parties that party nominations ended midnight (Jan 18) and any nominations ongoing were illegal and against the Elections Act as per the Kenya Gazette Notice Vol. CXIV- No. 132 of 28th December 2012.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
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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