ODM FIGHTS JUBILEE THREATENING FUTURE OF HANDSHAKE

The Orange party has filed a complaint with IEBC, alleging mistreatment of agents in Bonchari by-election.

In a letter seen by the Star on Tuesday, ODM claimed its candidate and agents have been harried by the police, as the by-election is ongoing.

The party executive director, Oduor Ong’wen, accused the state of using the police to campaign for Jubilee candidate, Zebedeo Opore and intimidating the party officials on diverse dates, as well as open voter bribery in polling stations.

“It is in our view that the aforementioned acts by the Jubilee candidate, public and state officers attached to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and members of the National Police Service amount to gross contravention of the of Elections Offences Act (No. 37),” Ong’wen said.

The party called on IEBC to forward the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions for investigations and prosecution of involved individuals.

In a series of tweets, the Orange party has made several allegations of voter bribery in Bonchari, since voting started on Tuesday morning.

The party has also reported cases of alleged arrests of MCAs and other leaders who were acting as their agents in the Bonchari by-election.

The seat that fell vacant following the death of John Oroo Oyioka after at Aga Khan hospital in Kisumu had attracted his widow, Teresia Bitutu who is contesting on a UDA ticket and former EPRA boss Pavel Oimeke of ODM.

Others are Lake Victoria South Water Works Agency director Victor Omanwa of Party of Economic Democracy, former MP Zebedeo Opore of Jubilee Party, former Kisii Woman Representative Mary Otara of United Green Party and Jonah Ondieki of The New Democrats.

On Monday, Sub-County Returning officer Benson Ambuko denied claims of any planned rigging, with police saying they were on high alert.

By The Star Kenya