The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has said it will announce the winner of the much-contested grassroots elections held in Kakamega, which were characterised by chaos.
In a brief statement on Monday evening, the party announced that the winner would be declared on Tuesday, September 2, in a public and open manner amid concerns over the credibility of the poll results.
This followed chaos during the elections, resulting in a contested outcome, with one faction declaring Governor Fernandes Barasa as the county chairperson and another declaring Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera as the winner.
"The election of the Kakamega County Coordinating Committee was held yesterday, on Monday, as directed by the National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) after the exercise was aborted last Friday. Results of the election will be posted here in the course of the day," the ODM party wrote.
During the grassroots elections held at Igoho KMTC in Kakamega County, chaos erupted after a section of ODM supporters demanded the immediate exit of the returning officer who had reportedly called off the party elections last week.
Police officers, who were on high alert, quickly intervened and dispersed the rowdy residents before escorting the officer to his vehicle. A new returning officer was immediately dispatched.
Although the elections went ahead, the results sparked a factional standoff after MP Nabwera's team dismissed the outcome that declared Barasa as the winner.
Nabwera's camp protested the voting method used in the grassroots elections, raising questions over whether delegates should cast their votes by secret ballot or by queuing.
Specifically, Nabwera's team demanded a secret ballot system, while Barasa's supporters pushed for an open queuing method. Following the disagreement, Nabwera and his team boycotted the elections, prompting the new returning officer to declare Barasa the winner.
Monday’s chaos came barely five days after the county party polls were first halted when the two factions failed to agree on the modalities of the elections.
During that incident, witnessed on Thursday, August 28, the ODM party’s national leadership declared the elections null and void and rescheduled them to Monday, September 1.
Speaking moments after the suspension of last week’s elections, Governor Barasa accused his opponent of harbouring ill intentions and attempting to manipulate the outcome of the polls.
