ODM on the spot over chaotic party elections

The chaos that marred ODM elections in parts of Nyanza and Western regions have once again put the party leadership on the spot over its inability to conduct peaceful primaries.

The party cancelled Kisumu County poll results after violence marred the exercise.

The elections were also disrupted in parts of Siaya County after some delegates protested alleged interference by some party officials.

In Western, four people were injured after violence erupted in Matayos last Monday. Police were forced to shoot in the air to save area MP Godfrey Odanga from chaotic youths at Busia Farmers Training College.

The chaos happened barely a month after three people allegedly died during the party elections in Migori County, although the ODM leadership denied the reports.

ODM commissioner of elections in Nyanza Peter Odoyo said polls in parts of Nyanza where elections aborted will be held again through acclamation. Some delegates are opposed to the decision.

The former Nyakach MP maintained that the election of Dave Okwach as the Kisumu County chair was null and void, as due process was not followed and the delegates allied to the candidate resorted to intimidation and violence to secure the post.

“We have annulled the election. One cannot use violence and coercion to a acquire party position. They coerced our Returning Officer to declare Okwach the county chairman,” he said.

Mr Odoyo said the party has launched investigation to find out those who were behind the chaos and that disciplinary actions would be taken against them.

The Kisumu polls that were held at Tom Mboya Labour College were marred with violence as two opposing camps, one allied to Mr Okwach and another supporting former Muhoroni MP Ayiecho Olweny fought for the county chairmanship position.

Damaged car

Prof Olweny, a former Assistant Minister for Education, had his vehicle pelted with stones. He escaped unhurt, but the car was extensively damaged.

Amidst the confusion, some delegates installed Okwach as the county chair without conducting elections and forced ODM Returning Officer Japheth Okal to declare him the winner. However, the party has nullified his election.

Curiously, the party has now asked Prof Olweny to convene an informal session of 14 delegates from the local constituencies to elect county leaders, a move some local party members have protested, saying the Orange party is imposing the former MP on them as the county chairman.

“The positions will be apportioned per constituency because we want fairness in the distribution of the posts,” maintained Odoyo.

It was not the first time chaos marred the exercise which began last week Saturday in the lakeside city.

Youths had stormed a meeting of ODM officials, chaired by Odoyo at a local hotel to prepare for the elections.

The youths, who were protesting an alleged plot to influence the outcome of the polls, broke chairs and tables in the ensuing confrontation.

Speaking to The Standard on Sunday, Okwach faulted the decision to nullify his election, saying he was elected democratically. “It was the wish of the people that I be the party chairman at the county level,” he said.

In Siaya County, some delegates faulted the consensus voting system which was adopted by the party to pick officials.

And elections in Alego Usonga sub county were temporarily called off after the delegates failed to agree on a method to pick the officials. Further, there were claims that the list of delegates was doctored.

ODM Siaya County Returning Officer Alex Dunga claimed that some aspirants hired goons from Kisumu to disrupt the polls. “Hired goons were brought in the stadium from Kisumu. I had to call off the elections as a result of rising tension,” he said.