Violence mars ODM elections in city

Two women were injured during the ODM branch elections in Embakasi, Nairobi on Tuesday as rigging claims marred the party’s grassroots polls in several other constituencies, including Naivasha, Rongai and Eldama Ravine.

Police also arrested a man who was carrying an assortment of weapons including an axe.

The two women were roughed up by a group of youths manning the entrance of the Tom Mboya Hall, where the elections was going on.

Trouble started when the returning officer, Mr Nickson Sabaya, started calling the names of the delegates who were the only people required to enter the hall.

The women tried to sneak their way in, provoking the youths who tried to keep them away. Police had a difficult time controlling the rowdy group.

There was confusion inside the hall as one group demanded that the election be conducted by secret ballot while the larger group insisted on a queue. Mr Sabaya ruled that the polls be conducted according to the wishes of the majority.

Mr Michael Ogada was elected chairman, defeating Mr Irshad Sumra who conceded defeat.

In other results, Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey and his son Alex were on Tuesday elected ODM chairmen for Tinderet and Emgwen branches respectively.

In some constituencies like Saboti, Eldama Ravine, Rongai and Naivasha, the polls were marred by allegations of irregularities.

Nominated MP Musa Sirma defeated his successor, Mr Moses Lessonet to become chairman in Eldama Ravine.

However, Mr Lessonet stormed out of the poll centre after he disagreed with Mr Sirma on the mode of the election.

In Mosop, MP David Koech was elected chairman with Irine Magut as his deputy. Other officials were Mr Mark Bor (secretary), Mr Simeon Sang (treasurer) and Mr Simeon Kosgey (organising secretary).

In Saboti, the elections ended in disarray with two parallel polls being held. A group allied to councillor Pius Kauka and another led by Mr Benjamin Imbogo claimed leadership of the branch.

And in Rongai constituency, a splinter group held a parallel election a few metres from Morop Girl’s High School where area MP Luka Kigen was elected the branch chairman in an election.

The returning officer, Mr Hammed Mohamed, said the party head office would only accept his list of officials.

In Naivasha, Mr Bernard Mukaisi cried foul after he was edged out by a newcomer in the party, Mr Peter ole Osono, in the fight for the chairmanship.

“The elections are a sham and I will not accept the results,” Mr Mukaisi said.

Security personnel formed a human shield to protect Mr ole Osono as the matter threatened to degenerate into a fracas soon after he was declared the winner.

In Kwanza constituency, Mr Albert Gumo, brother of Regional Development minister Fred Gumo, beat Mr Michael Kittiyo to become chairman.

Meanwhile, Coast MPs will be vying for at least two top seats in ODM when the party’s delegates meet to elect national officials on December 18.

Bahari MP Benedict Gunda, who was on Tuesday elected unopposed as the party’s Bahari branch chairman, said he would meet with other MPs to map out a strategy on how they will lobby for at least two seats in the party’s National Executive Council, ODM’s highest decision-making organ.

Addressing more than 179 delegates who turned up for the branch elections at Kilifi primary school, Mr Gunda said Coast residents should be rewarded with top posts because they voted overwhelmingly for the party during the December General Election. Coast Province has 21 MPs of which 14 are from ODM.

Reported by Peterson Githaiga, Walker Mwandoto, Noah Cheploen and  Macharia Mwangi