Standoff as Kisumu Muslim association polls kick off

Amina Said, a member of Kisumu Muslim Association, protests after some members opposed the use of the secret ballot to pick new leaders. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Tension yesterday rocked the election of new leaders of the Kisumu Muslim Association.

Earlier in the day, police officers pitched camp at the polling centre even as a section of voters demanded a stop to the election.

The voters accused the outgoing chairman, Khalfan Khamis, of colluding with the electoral chairman to use the secret ballot, which had been opposed.

Some members claimed they had expected the exercise to begin with a series of activities, including an annual general meeting.

Mr Khamis was defending his seat while Ishmael Musa was seeking to unseat him. 

Hussein Farjallah, a member, said that according to the association's rules, on election day, the chairman must present a financial report to be adopted by members. The executive then resigns and a new election is conducted. The office is declared vacant and members select the contestants, who are each given five minutes to present their manifestos to the voters.

According to the constitution, members decide whether they want to adopt queue voting, secret balloting or pick their leaders by a show of hands.

However, Mr Farjallah said the elections that started at 8am had ignored the constitution even as a few voters trickled into the Jamia Mosque polling centre.

The office of chairman controls all the association's assets in the county, which are valued at Sh2.7 billion. They include hospitals and schools.

"My opponents want to undermine and portray me as a bad leader, yet all I have done is to serve the people," said Khamis.