Confusion as two declared winners in Mt Elgon

By Daniel Psirmoi and Peter Atsiaya

Former MP Fred Kapondi and his opponent Michael Kawon have both claimed victory in the United Republican Party nominations in Mt Elgon.

URP Bungoma head office has reportedly named Kapondi the nominee but URP Mt Elgon Constituency Returning Offi cer Fanuel Cheminingwa declared Kawon the winner, saying he polled over 2,000 votes more than Kapondi.

Contradicting figures

 “From what I received from the polling stations, Michael Kawon got 5,928 against Fred Kapondi who got 3,926 votes. I gave URP national office the same figures. I wonder how they came up with 16,000 for Kapondi,” Cheminingwa stated.

But Kapondi claimed he had won in the primaries by garnering 16,235 votes in results attributed to URP Bungoma County Returning Officer.

Cheminingwa, however, explained less than 10,000 votes were cast in the primaries. Speaking to The Standard On Saturday, Kawon claimed the exercise was a sham and called for repeat.

“The URP nomination was marred with irregularities, I call upon the National Election Council to nullify the results for Mt Elgon,” said Kawon.

He added, “I won in all election centres in five wards out of six in Mt Elgon, Kapondi won in Cheptais and Chesikaki wards, how can he be declared the winner?” Kawon posed.

He said he was consulting widely with his friends and lawyer, hinting that he may move to court for a petition.

He faulted the use of Mlolongo system, adding that some voters were threatened and forced to vote for an aspirant. ODM results were not out by the time of going to the Press.  Allan Mayiek, Samson Kiboi and Sammy Chemwey were battling for the ticket.

Meanwhile, Housing Minister Soita Shitanda has been granted the New Ford Kenya ticket to vie for Kakamega Governor’s seat a day after UDF disqualified him over invalid academic papers.

Mr Shitanda said he was in the race for the Governor’s seat adding that he read mischief in UDF’s decision to reject his degree.

“I have New Ford Kenya’s ticket and I would be on the ballot paper for Governor’s seat,” said Shitanda. New Ford-Kenya party is led by Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa who has teamed up with Mudavadi and Kanu national Chairman Gideon Moi in Amani Alliance.

The eyes are now on the IEBC to see whether they would clear Shitanda or not.

If he would be given a clean bill of health, the contest for the Governor’s seat would be a three horse race pitting Shitanda, his Planning Counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya (ODM) and UK based business woman Mable Muruli (independent candidate).