Officials row mars ODM branch polls

By James Omoro

ODM party’s bid to elect Kabondo Kasipul Constituency officials hit a snag following a disagreement on who has the mandate to call for the exercise.

According to a letter addressed to the Presiding Officer, William Odiango, the elections were to be conducted on Tuesday at Oriang’ Polytechnic.

The letter signed by ODM Homabay County Secretary who is also the Karachuonyo MP James Rege permitted the elections.

But in a statement delivered to the Press by ODM Homa Bay County Elections Co-ordinator, Tom Okong’o, the election was nullified because the wrong officials of the party called for it.

Requirement

Okong’o argued the ODM constitution requires that election could only be called by the party leader or an elections board.

“I have just talked to the Elections Board Commissioner in charge of Nyanza Province, James Ogundo and Professor Chacha Nyaigoti who have nullified the election,” Okong’o said.

The election came as a result of creation of Kabondo Kasipul, carved from Kasipul Kabondo Constituency currently represented in Parliament by Joseph Oyugi Magwanga.