Governor Mruttu and Mwadeghu clash over certificate at Orange House

 
Taita Taveta County Governor John Mruttu PHOTO:COURTESY

Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu was poised to clinch the ODM ticket to contest the governor's seat.

Mwadeghu seemed to have secured the concession from the party on a day of high drama at Orange House where he and his rival, Governor John Mruttu, had gone to present their respective cases. 

Asked whether Mwadeghu had been handed the ticket, ODM director of communication Philip Etale replied: "No", but added, "he will be issued."

ODM picked Mwadeghu, the National Assembly minority whip, as part of a three-man team to investigate contested results for Homa Bay and Migori governor races, which seemed to cement Etale's position. 

Mwadeghu and Mruttu moved to Orange House to seek a solution to the stalemate.

Their supporters camped outside Orange House where they shouted each other down, each side claiming its candidate won the recent nominations. 

Provisional results had shown Mwadeghu with 17,567 votes against Mruttu's 14,817.

ODM ordered a repeat of voting in two wards, a move that was welcomed by Mruttu but contested by Mwadeghu.

Mruttu claims there was no voting in the two stations. "Basically, there are some polling stations where voting never took place. The voters are aware no voting took place in Chala," Mruttu said.