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ODM orders repeat polls in Nyamira

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Published on Friday, 27 January 2012 19:01

THE ODM National Elections Board has ordered a repeat of the Nyamira branch, North Mugirango and Rongo sub branch elections. According to a statement signed by the board chairman Phillip Okundi, the elections will be repeated on Monday. Okundi said the board had examined complaints forwarded by members regarding the polls before ordering the repeat.

The elections shall comprise all streams including Orange Young Democrats League, Orange Women Democrats League and the Mainstream. The board also ordered a repeat election in North Mugirango/Borabu sub-branch mainstream elections for Sunday. During the elections, Kitutu Masaba politician and Nairobi businessman Timothy Bosire was elected chairman after his sole opponent assistant minister James Gesami boycotted the exercise upon sensing defeat.

Okundi said the board cancelled Gwassi sub branch elections earlier. The board yielded to pressure and ordered repeat elections in Rongo Sub-branch in Migori county on February 1. The elections will be held for the Orange Young Democrats League, Orange Women Democrats League and the mainstream. The polls will start on Monday from sub locations. On Tuesday, the elections will enter ward level and on Wednesday the constituency level. Okundi said the board will uphold high standards of fairness and transparency and accord a level playing ground to all the candidates.

However, the board was yesterday accused of disregarding reports from county coordinators and returning officers. “Why is the board meeting factions separately and tempering with lists of duly elected officials,” an ODM supporter from Nyamira county posed. In Rongo, party members welcomed repeat polls. Last week some aspirants threatened to ditch the party over last year’s disputed polls. In Homa Bay county, Okundi is being accused of favouring his cronies as he positions himself for the governor’s seat.