Act on poll chaos, ODM tells IEBC

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party wants the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to take stern action against perpetrators of violence against its Homa Bay senatorial candidate Moses Kajwang'.

The legislators allied to the Orange party said IEBC should move with speed to take appropriate action as stipulated in the Elections Act.

ODM's Political Affairs Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said the violence took place in broad daylight yet no action been taken against the culprits.

Code of conduct

"We don't want IEBC to lament or just make warnings. They must take action and appropriate measures and ensure that the electoral code of conduct is adhered to. Our opponents are trying to sow seeds of discord and, despite the provocation, we have remained calm," said Mr Wandayi.

He claimed the violence was instigated by angry youth demanding the party rescind its decision to field Kajwang' in the by-elections set for next week.

However, the party sees a sinister motive behind the violence.

"According to our agents and reports, the violence was sponsored by the Jubilee coalition which is keen to have ODM shrouded in a bad name. This is purely the work of our opponents who want to show their paymasters that they are doing something," Wandayi claimed.

ODM's Director of Elections Junet Mohamed said the party had formally complained to IEBC and reported the matter to the police in Homa Bay but was yet to get a response.

"IEBC must take action against this hooliganism. If it was our supporters who engaged in the violence, the story would be different. Let the law take its course. We will still hold our campaigns peacefully," said Mohamed.

IEBC has already condemned the violence meted on Kajwang' last Friday and requested the candidate to write an official complaint to the police and the commission to enable investigations with a view to take necessary legal action.

Police report

Sunday, IEBC Commissioner Thomas Letangule said the commission was waiting for the police report to establish the cause of violence and the perpetrators.

"Once we get the report, I can assure you we shall take action," Mr Letangule told The Standard.

Section 65 of the Elections Act 2011 and the electoral code of conduct prohibits any form of violence during campaigns and anyone found to contravene the law risks facing its full force.

Letangule asked the public to maintain peace during the campaigns and to resist being used by candidates to participate in any form of violence.

IEBC cleared eight candidates and has since gazetted their names in the Kenya Gazette to contest in the February 12 senatorial by-election.

The violence erupted at the funeral of a former Homa Bay County staff member in Ndhiwa Sub-County. Kajwang' was injured during the fracas and was later treated and discharged.