By Mangoa Mosota
KENYA: Some politicians in Nyanza Province could lose their ODM nomination tickets if Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) rules against the party for handing them nomination certificates.
Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ could lose the ODM Homa Bay senate ticket if the Disputes and Resolution Panel rules against him.
Others whose fate will be determined by the panel’s decision today include ODM Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo, immediate former Alego Usonga MP Edwin Yinda, former PS James Nyikal, former LSK chairman Okong’o Omogeni and former Marie Stopes Director Cyprian Awiti.
Mr Kajwang’ faced a voter at the tribunal who argued the minister was struck off the Law Society of Kenya membership over integrity issues hence ineligible to contest.
Define integrity
The immediate former Mbita MP, however, defended himself stating that he had been reinstated to LSK mid last year, adding that the meaning of integrity should be clearly stated.
Mr Midiwo, the immediate former Gem MP, would lose his certificate to Elisha Odhiambo, who was reportedly declared the winner after the January 17 primaries.
Mr Odhiambo has persistently indicated that he won the contest, although the party’s National Election Board decided to give Jakoyo the nomination certificate.
Mr Yinda would lose candidature for Alego Usonga parliamentary seat if his challenger Omondi Mulwan succeeds in his petition.
The former MP reportedly came third in the duel, after Mr Mulwan and businessman Odunga Mamba, but ODM forwarded his name to IEBC.
In the Homa Bay gubernatorial seat, former CCK chairman Philip Okundi challenged the candidature of Owiti.
Mr Okundi said there were no elections in many areas. However, his political foe said he won the primaries. In Nyamira county, Omogeni’s senate candidature will be determined today, after long serving Kitutu Masaba MP Abuya Abuya filed a complaint against him.
Mr Abuya said he trounced Omogeni and did not understand why the party gave the ticket to the former LSK chairman.
But NEB chairman Franklin Bett defended the decision.
GL
UDF aspirant plans court case
• A parliamentary aspirant has vowed to move to court to stop IEBC from processing the UDF nomination list
• Geoffrey Obwoge said he was given the nomination certificate for the Rongai parliamentary seat, but the party submitted the details of John Kitilit to IEBC
• Obwoge is a UDF member, number 111179 and was given certificate number 0095
