Rigging claims, delays in delivering poll materials mar grassroots elections

Uda Secretary General Cleophas Malala with election dispute resolution committee chairperson Joy Mdivo addresses the press ahead of the party grassroots elections. [Collins Oduor, Standard] Delays in delivery of voting materials, rigging claims, hitches in voting and heavy rains marred the first phase of United Democratic Alliance grassroots elections. This happened as pockets of violence were witnessed in some of counties after supporters of opposing candidates clashed on Friday. While some counties registered huge turnout, the polls were low-key in Busia and West Pokot counties. In Narok, heavy rains rendered most roads impassable and were blamed for delays in the polls. A chopper had to be deployed to distribute the materials to far-fledged areas where roads were impassable. There was anxiety in all 600 polling centres in all six constituencies after the delay of voting materials that saw the polls kick off as late as 1pm.At Masikonte primary school polling centre, Marion Towet, a party member, said she was there as early as 9am and was among UDA voters who waited long hours to vote. "I have foregone my job today to come and vote, but until 12:30 noon I am still here and ballot materials haven't arrived. I feel it's a waste of time," said Towet.Chaos was witnessed at Lenana Primary School polling centre in Narok town after voters barred a county official from opening the ballot boxes with claims of being partisan and would favour one side. Narok East MP Lemanken Aramat who was at the polling centre complained that the elections kicked off on the wrong foot, describing them as shambolic. Supporters clashed Supporters of Narok West MP Gabriel Tongoyo and those for Governor Patrick ole Ntutu almost clashed in one polling station over claims that ballot materials for Melili ward had been tampered with.Tongoyo and Ntutu are seeking the county chairmanship position. Tongoyo claimed the ballot boxes and poll gadgets were opened inside a vehicle at Siyiabei, before reaching the polling centre in Narok North. "My agents sensed something was fishy and they followed the vehicle but after stopping the vehicle it was true that the materials were opened, the voting gadgets and SIM cards were already tampered with," said Tongoyo who complained that was an early sign that the elections were shambolic. Tongoyo complained that his opponent was using county employees, including CECs, COs as POs and clerks in the polling centres raising worry that the move would skew the results of the election to one side. "We have a list of all the county employees who are manning these polling centers and about percent of my opponent's agents are county employees," said Tongoyo. Rain delays However, after voting at Kutete Primary School Governor Ntutu denied the claims saying the elections kicked off well despite the delays because of rains. "The claims are untrue, and every side had a 50 percent stake in employing poll officials, and we agreed on the list, what they are raising now is unfounded," said Ntutu. In Busia, election gadgets in most polling centres failed to work, hours after the voting had started. "We had some hiccups but the good thing is that the voting ended successfully and there were no major incidents and zero violence," said Peter Ipara, an interim UDA official. In West Pokot, pockets of violence were witnessed in Sigor Constituency. Police officers were forced to use tear gas to disperse rowdy members who engaged in physical fights. Similar scenes were witnessed in Nasokol and Chepareria areas. Locals who arrived early at various polling stations expressed disappointment at the slow pace of the elections. Nelly Chepkemoi, a voter at Makutano Primary School polling center said: "I turned up at the station at 8am but by 1pm, nothing was happening. It's almost raining, and I left my kids at home. We aren't getting any answers from the officials." Many voters complained about the lack of communication from the UDA officials at the polling stations, exacerbating the frustration among those eagerly waiting to cast their votes. Henry Songo, an aspirant, urged his supporters to remain patient. "We were ready, but the delays may have been caused by political brokers. It is unfortunate that some voters have already left due to frustration," he said. [Report by George Sayagie, Irrisheel Shanzu, James Omoro and Benard Lusigi]

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