A bitter dispute has erupted in Kasipul constituency after Newton Ogada, a parliamentary hopeful, rejected the outcome of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) primaries and demanded a fresh vote.
Ogada, who lost to Boyd Were, said the nomination exercise last week was riddled with violence, ballot tampering, and glaring irregularities. “Hired goons stormed polling stations, chased away voters and even marked ballot papers to inflate numbers,” he told reporters in Oyugis on Monday.
ODM declared Were the winner with 18,210 votes against Ogada’s 3,037. But Ogada dismissed the figures, questioning how the tally could exceed 18,000 when, according to him, fewer than 7,000 people turned out. “The numbers simply do not add up,” he argued.
The nomination process, he added, was marred by confusion even before voting day. Several vehicles were reported damaged during the clashes.
He urged the ODM leadership to investigate those behind the violence and ensure accountability. “The party must act firmly. Otherwise, this will set a dangerous precedent,” Ogada said.
ODM officials have not yet responded publicly to the accusations.
The dispute reflects deeper tensions within ODM as it seeks to maintain unity ahead of the 2027 general elections. Party primaries, often fiercely contested, have historically triggered internal rivalries that risk spilling into the national stage.
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