ODM elections official says his life in danger

Kasipul Kabondo's ODM candidate is mobbed by youths as he is driven away from Agoro Sare Primary School grounds yesterday during the constituency-level elections. [Photo: Denish Ochieng/ Standard]

An Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) elections official in Nyanza has gone into hiding, saying he fears for his life.

Speaking to The Standard on phone, Peter Odoyo accused rival factions of Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, of conspiring to abduct him so that he could declare each of them the winner.

Ms Wanga and Mr Kaluma are running for county ODM chair.

 INTELLIGENCE TIP

Mr Odoyo said he had received information that both factions were looking for him so that he could be taken to an unknown location to declare the ‘captor’ as the winner for county chairperson.

“I am worried because my security is compromised by the rival factions of Kaluma and Wanga. I am in the county but can’t reveal my location. The information I have is that both factions want to abduct me with the aim of being forced to declare their leader the victor of the county chair poll,” said.

Odoyo was expected to address journalists in Homa Bay town on Tuesday at 6pm but decided to go into hiding after Kaluma and Wanga’s factions clashed in the town.

The tension led to postponement of the grassroots elections in the county indefinitely.

Yesterday, the elections were to enter the final day where party officials at the county level were to be elected.

“We have postponed them at the county level due to fear of loss of life,” said Odoyo.

The confusion emerged following production of parallel lists of delegates by both the Wanga and Kaluma factions.

In Kisii, Senator Chris Obure and Governor James Ongwae were contesting for the post of county secretary and chairman respectively.

In Nyamira, Governor John Nyagarama and West Mugirango MP James Gesami were both gunning for the post of county chairman.

Odoyo said elections went on smoothly in West Mugirango, Borabu, Kitutu Masaba and North Mugirango constituencies.

He said the Homa Bay County Police Commandant had advised them to postpone the elections for security reasons.

However, he didn’t indicate the new date for the elections in Homa Bay County but disclosed that the county elections in Kisii and Nyamira would be held on December 16.

The ODM National Elections Board had announced on Sunday evening that it had suspended grassroots elections for Bomachoge Chache constituency because of tension.

 TENSION HIGH

Odoyo said the elections will be held on December 14-15, adding that there has been tension between Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi and Bomachoge Borabu MP Simon Ogari, who were both contesting for the sub-county chairmanship post.

Wanga expressed optimism that she was going to win even as Kaluma alleged poll malpractice.

“I can assure you that I am going to win the election because delegates from almost all constituencies are allied to my camp,” Wanga said.

But Kaluma disputed the elections of delegates on grounds that the poll list was flawed.