From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
WEDENESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013
Chris from Luanda Kotieno, Rarieda Constituency, Siaya County writes: “Fr Beste you are the one who knows and understand Kenyan politics very well. I usually like reading your blog and I must say you are the best political analyst in Kenya, especially Luo Nyanza who is not biased, now tell me who do you think will win by-election tomorrow, Rasanga or Oduol?”
Thank you Chris for your question and reading my blog- My answer to your question is that just as Siaya people complained that Cornell Amoth Rasanga was rigged in by Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is the same method Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) is going to use. In other words Rasanga will be declared a winner whether Siaya people like it or not.
Amoth Rasanga has never been the people’s choice in Siaya that is why when he was declared a winner the people complained bitterly. Rasanga is not even Raila Odinga’s choice by the way. He is Raila’s cousin Jakoyo Midiwo, Siaya Senator James Orengo and Rarieda MP Eng. Gumbo Rege.
That is why when CORD nominated Rasanga to defend his seat in the up-coming by-election scheduled for tomorrow, the choice of Rasanga came following a flurry of meetings chaired by former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, who was cornered and forced to swallow a bitter pill and accept Rasanga’s candidature, because he was not his choice, tell it all that even though william Oduol will definitely emerge the winner his victory will be given to Rasanga.
Raila and other CORD leaders had intended to handpick either Elkana Odembo, who is the former Ambassador to the US and Ida Odinga’s Cousin, or Engineer Carey Orege, the immediate former PS for Regional Development, who also hails from Raila Odinga’s ancestral home of Bondo, Orengo, Midiwo and Eng Rege insisted that Rasanga must be the one.
This resistance left Raila with no choice but to accept their verdict. Rasanga now faces his arch rival, William Oduol, of National Agenda Party Kenya (NAPK) who is people’s choice in Siaya.
Rasanga was the first governor to lose his seat through an election petition. Oduol was one of those eyeing the ODM ticket but was denied. But even when he joined another party Siaya people still liked and voted for him overwhelmingly.
Had it not because of rigging Oduol would by now be preparing to be sworn in on Friday October 18, 2013 as the duly, democratically and fairly elected governor of Siaya.
A recount of votes in Siaya Gubernatorial race, ordered by Justice Aggrey Muchelule on July 3rd, revealed a massive disparity between what Siaya Governor Rasanga got and what the IEBC used to declare him the winner.
The recount that was conducted in only three constituencies of Rarieda, Bondo and Gem, showed that the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidate, Cornel Rasanga’s votes were inflated by close to 9, 000 votes, a clear indication that the figure would have increased tremendously if the recount was carried out throughout Siaya County.
According to figures after the recount, Rasanga got a total of 80, 254 votes as opposed to IEBC figure of 88, 358, while that of his competitor William Oduol were 58,851 compared to what IEBC recorded of 59, 291 votes.
However, the most shocking figures were the totals of some of the selected polling stations in the county where Rasanga got a total of 133, 798 votes compared to Oduol’s 133, 567, a difference of 231 votes only.
While cancelling the win, Justice Aggrey Muchelule noted that Rasanga’s campaign and subsequent election were marred by fraud and there was need for a repeat poll. Muchelule directed that voters in Siaya will now go to the polls again to elect a Governor.
In the two hour ruling, Muchelule pointed out a litany of electoral malpractices against Oduol including how his posters were defaced and in some instances pictures of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto superimposed on them.
Oduol had sought the seat on a National Agenda Party ticket.
The judge also observed that in some instances ODM luminaries led by Siaya Senator James Orengo and Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo invaded Oduol’s campaign rallies forcing him to walk away.
In one incident at Ludhehe, ODM supporters including Orengo came with more powerful loud speakers and took over Oduol’s function forcing him to leave.
The judge also noted how Midiwo referred to Oduol as a murderer who shot his wife forcing him to parade his wife and family to 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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Twitter-@8000accomole
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