Petitioner’s spouse admits destroying campaign flyers

By Maureen Odiwuor

Kisumu, Kenya: A poll loser’s husband burnt flyers maligning his wife’s name during the campaign period, a court has heard.

Orange Democratic Movement’s Kisumu West constituency candidate Rozah Buyu’s husband — Dennis Randiak — said the flyers were spread all over the constituency during the campaign period.

“I collected some of the flyers and burnt them out of anger,” he said in the election petition challenging Kisumu West MP Olago Aluoch’s victory. Randiak told Justice Hillary Chemitei that the flyers spread propaganda that his wife’s character was questionable, a statement he told the court he did not agree with.

He told the court that he allowed his wife to contest in the election despite initial reservations because he knew the field would not be fair to women candidates.

During cross examination, Aluoch who represents himself in the case asked if there was evidence connecting him to the flyers. “Are you aware that there were other candidates me included, who were maligned during the campaign?” Aluoch asked.

“No I am not aware,” responded Randiak.