Kisumu North MCA aspirant Samuel Dedeh on Saturday won the ODM ticket in party primaries in readiness for the December 15 by-election.
Dedeh garnered 1,461 votes, beating his four rivals — Thomas Kotieno, former councillor Bernard Muga, Ramadhan Bilali and former MCA Caroline Owen.
Kotieno finished second with 1,129 votes, Muga got 979, Bilali 554 and Owen 174. The votes were counted from 15 polling centres.
The seat fell vacant after MCA Elisha Oraro resigned following his unanimous election as Kisumu speaker on January 24.
The primaries were, however, marred by hitches as the names of many voters were missing from the party register.
This is after the party opted to use the 2013 register instead of the IEBC list as the election board had assured candidates.
Voter Mary Atieno questioned why the party decided to use the 2013 register instead of the IEBC one.
"It is a clear indication of shambolic primaries. Our names are missing from the register being used," Atieno said.
Kotieno expressed his disappointment with the manner in which the nominations were conducted. He said many voters's names were missing without any clear information on whether they would vote.
"Yesterday (Friday) we were told that we would use the IEBC register but later they said they would use the ODM list and those whose names will be missing will use that of the IEBC to vote," he said.
Kotieno said his name was missing from the ODM register, and he was told that it was being corrected. He votes at Bar Union Primary School polling station.
"My name was appearing in Nyalenda B ward on the ODM list, yet in the IEBC register, I was supposed to vote in Kisumu North ward," Kotieno said.
At Bar Union Primary School polling station, Kotieno supporters demanded free, fair and credible nominations.
Joshua Ochieng said they will elect a candidate of their choice irrespective of party affiliation on December 15.
At Ogada Primary School polling station, the situation was the same, with voters dissatisfied with the nominations.
Returning officer John Keboi said the election was free, fair, credible and transparent.
ODM National Elections Board chairperson Catherine Muma said no violence had been reported since the exercise started.
She denied allegations that the party already had a candidate of their choice, saying voters would decide the winner.
Muma said there were delays at two polling centres after presiding officers failed to turn up.
"We had to do a quick recruitment and the voting started late," the chair said. The voting started at 6am and ended at 5pm.
Muma said they are using the ODM list, which was cross-checked with the IEBC one.
"Those whose names are missing should be patient as they will vote. If your name is missing in one polling centre, you should go to another one to check," she said.
While receiving the ODM certificate, Dedeh said he was ready to work with his rivals to foster development. He pledged to unite all competitors after weeks of divisive campaigns.
“I am looking forward to completing the projects started by my predecessor before starting my own when I get to the office,” he said.
Edited by EKibii