By JAMES OMORO and RUSHDIE OUDIA

Three politicians in Nyanza have been accused of doctoring the county wards nominees’ list published by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Mbita legislator Millie Odhiambo yesterday said the politicians who are MPs interfered with the list sparking public outrage.

“I have to admit that there were three politicians who sneaked and interfered with lists of people we proposed to be nominated. This is a behavior that should be eradicated from our society,” she added without naming the MPs.

Members of the public also complained that the list contained people who had not been directly involved in politics before. Ms Odhiambo said her constituency had three nominees who hailed from the same ward therefore making it not fairly represented.

 “The Constitution requires regional balance but this is a case where I have three nominees from the same ward. Does it mean the person who nominated them knew Mbita constituency has only one ward,” she asked.

Orange Democratic Movement Director of Communications Philip Etale told The Standard the party had received more than 70 complaints and referred the complainants to IEBC’s tribunal.

He said some of the names on the list did not reflect those forwarded to IEBC, adding that the party’s lawyers would deal with the issues before the tribunal. “IEBC went against its mandate by picking names haphazardly without following the numbers as indicated by the party,” he said.

In Kisumu County, a man’s name, W Auma Oriare, found its way in the list of nominated women. “W” is an initial for Washington. This has led to numerous complaints being filed at the IEBC tribunal.

Homa Bay town MP Opondo Kaluma said the list was made in an unfair manner, adding that none of his constituents was picked.

The legislator said he had proposed four people yet none of them was picked.

 “It is unfortunate that a whole constituency can have no nominee to county the assembly. I don’t understand the criterion that was used to arrive at the names,” Kaluma said.

He said he held a meeting with Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti but his wishes were not factored in.