Tana River: Hussein Dado disputes poll outcome, says he'll move to court

Former Interior Chief Administrative Secretary Hussein Dado. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

Former Interior CAS Hussein Dado of UDA, who lost to the incumbent - Dhadho Godhana (ODM) - in the Tana River County gubernatorial race, says he will move to court over irregularities in the just concluded election.

Addressing the press on Saturday, August 13, Dado rejected the poll outcome and claimed that the whole election was a sham, allegedly manipulated by his opponents in order to deprive him of victory.

Dado claimed that some of the ballot boxes in Garsen constituency were tampered with.

"The whole exercise was marred with irregularities and efforts by my agents on the issue of tampered ballot boxes in Garsen constituency to the IEBC officials were not heeded. I have no option but to petition for a recount of the ballot papers," said Dado.

Responding to the allegations, however, County Returning Officer Yonah Ogola asked Dado to seek legal redress. "I know you have been also in the government and know I have not been in Garsen. Mine was to collate results from other three constituencies," said Ogola.

Speaking at his residence together with his deputy Mahad Loka, Governor Godhana asked poll losers to cooperate and work with his administration.

Governor Godhana said he will ensure the completion of the remaining projects and development agenda.

Godhana won by a narrow margin of 259 after garnering 26,892 votes in the election. Dado got 26,633 votes.