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2017 KENYA ELECTIONS

Orange House confident despite poll primary hiccups

ODM members line-up to participate in the party primaries at Masaba Primary School, Kiminini Constituency on Tuesday/COURTESY

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 18 – Orange House has exuded confidence in its party primaries despite a false start in Taita Taveta, Trans Nzoia, Nyamira, Nakuru and Kajiado counties.

The Orange Democratic Party which is embarking on the third tier of nominations Tuesday after a similar exercise in Bungoma, Busia, Machakos counties (Thursday) and Turkana, Samburu, Narok counties (Saturday) is facing a challenge managing expectations of its followers as aspirants battle for party tickets amid accusations and counter accusations of interference.

On Monday, supporters of two rivals camps clashed at the Mwatate CDF Hall in Taita Taveta County over rigging claims just a day before the exercise.

The supporters belonging to incumbent Governor John Mruttu and his competitor National Assembly Minority Whip Thomas Mwadeghu (Wundanyi MP – ODM) also clashed Sunday as Mruttu’s stalwarts questioned the partiality of election clerks picked to oversee the exercise.

Rita Oyier, the party’s communications adviser told Capital FM News that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure the exercise continues uninterrupted.

“The police are on site and everything is in control. As we speak the materials are on the way to the various polling stations,” she said admitting that the chaos witnessed earlier “caused some delay in relaying polling materials to voting stations.”

“In terms of the technical aspect of the election, everything is in order,” she added.

A low voter turnout has been reported in several parts of the county but more visible is the turnout in Voi Town, the county’s commercial hub where most primary schools acting as polling centers remained largely abandoned.

While the Voi Constituency MP Jones Mlolwa has been given the party’s nomination to defend his seat, his colleague Andrew Mwadime in Mwatate constituency will face Chris Mwambingu for a slot in the August 8 contest.

In Taveta and Wundanyi constituencies ODM has handed direct tickets to Ruth Lelewu anad Ray Mwangola respectively.

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Jones Mwaruma and Richard Tairo are contesting for the party’s senate ticket whose holder, Senator Dan Mwazo, moved to Jubilee Party.

Mwazo will be seeking JP’s gubernatorial ticket.

The Woman Representative race has attracted Hope Anisa and Anastacia Wakesho both of who are seeking to replace current Woman Representative Joyce Lay who defected to JP to run for the Senate seat.

ODM’s County Election Coordinator, Anderson Mwalona has assured aspirants of a free and fair process.

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