More than 200 goons raid ODM county elections centre, steal election material

More than 200 goons invaded ACK Guest House, which was being used by the Orange Democtratic Movement as an elections centre, and took away election material on Sunday night.

Homa bay County Police Commander John Omusanga said the goons gained entry into the premises after overpowering police who were deployed to guard the area.

“They (police officers) felt shooting could have culminated in loss of many lives,” Mr Omusanga said.

He said the goons later returned the material at around 5am yesterday, adding that they were following credible leads.

“We are just waiting for an official statement from the election officials so that we arrest the suspects implicated in the incident,” he said.

Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who is contesting the position of county  chairman, area Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata and the assembly Majority Leader Owino Ooro condemned the incident, saying it could cause chaos in the county.

In a letter addressed to the party elections board commissioner in charge of elections Peter Odoyo, Mr Kaluma claimed that some area politicians were interfering with the elections to suit their interests.

Kaluma called on the party elections board to nullify the elections in Kasipul and Rangwe constituencies to enhance fairness.

“There is no transparency in the elections in the two constituencies because it is not being done properly and I have sensed favouritism,” Kaluma said.

However, Mr Odoyo rubbished the claims saying the elections were going on well at ward level, adding that he had not come across any material that was taken by the goons.

“As we speak, I have distributed all the election material to various polling stations and nothing was missing. There is no reality in what those people are saying,” he said.

Odoyo postponed all party elections in Bomachoge Borabu constituency, citing bad weather.

The commissioner said there was high tension in the area and some groups were armed and ready to cause chaos.

“We consulted with the National Intelligence Service, top party officials and other local leaders and agreed to postpone the elections for two weeks to allow for reconciliation,” he announced.

 LOW TURNOUT

He added: “We don’t want bloodshed. We have set up a county committee led by Governor James Ongwae (Kisii) and Senator Chris Obure (Kisii) to talk with rival groups and ensure that there is no violence on December 14 and 15 when we will carry out the elections.”

On the low turnout experienced in polling stations on Sunday, Odoyo said most voters had gone to church, adding that they turned out in large numbers in the afternoon.

Speaking the Press on Sunday night after a brief meeting at a Kisii hotel, Bomachoge Chache MP Simon Ogari said that the party had failed to send election officials to the ground on time.

“Voters turned up as early as 7am but it is unfortunate that the exercise didn’t go on as planned. The party elections board has made a decision and we need to respect it. The tension we are experiencing is part of the elections process but we should not injure anybody,” Mr Ogari said.

The night meeting was also attended by Mr Obure and Deputy Governor Joash Maangi. Mr Maangi is the current Bomachage Chache sub-county chairman and Ogari is fighting to oust him.