The Orange Democratic Party (ODM) has distanced itself from a letter clearing one Jared Sala to run for the Nyando Parliamentary seat.
ODM's National Elections Board Secretary Dr. Robert Arunga stated that he hadn't written the letter to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) clearing Sala to run.
Nyando Returning Officer Carol Okky and ODM party Lawyer Tony Muturi disputed Sala’s claim for clearance and assured that the party had already written to the IEBC clarifying their position on the matter.
“ODM party says that all their correspondences are made to the chairman of the commission and not the CEO as the letter purports,” Muturi explained.
Sala had in the previous week presented the letter to IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba with supporting documents seeking to be cleared as ODM's Nyando Parliamentary candidate.
"The National Executive Committee of the Orange Democratic Movement resolved that one Jared Sala is nominated as the party candidate for the Member of National Assembly, Nyando Constituency, in line with the respective judgments of both the tribunal and the High Court," read the letter in part.
The court of appeal, however, dismissed the letters and upheld the candidature of his rival, Jared Okelo.
Upon discovery of his opponent's manoeuvring, Okello demanded the party to take action against Sala.
"Forgery is criminal, and if found that Mr. Sala forged the letter and used it to approach IEBC then he should face the law," Okelo stated.
