Monday, January 21, 2013

How Kisumu was turned into a battlefield

Youth in Kisumu protest at Kondele after receiving information that their candidates whom they voted at the ODM nominations had been shortchanged. [Photo: Titus Munala]

By Maureen Odiwuor
KISUMU, KENYA: A returning officer was escorted by heavily armed security detail to Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu where he announced the Kisumu County nomination results.
The officer, said to have been appointed by the party after Albert Mbwaga was replaced for allegedly colluding with Orange Democratic Movement Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o, addressed impatient party supporters at 10.30pm on Saturday.
He declined to identify himself but went ahead to read a list of results that he referred to as provisional. He started by declaring Shakeel Shabbir as the Kisumu East parliamentary nominee.
For Nyando, Kisumu West and Muhoroni, where voting was still going on at the time of announcement, former MPs Fred Outa, Olago Aluoch and Ayiecho Olweny were declared winners respectively. Ochola Ogoda was announced the winner for the senate seat while in Seme constituency no winner was declared.
Mlolongo results indicated Dr James Nyikal was ahead of the rest.
Heated reactions
Hell broke loose when he announced Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s sister, Ruth Odinga, as the ODM governor nominee. This sparked reactions from ODM supporters who began protesting following an earlier announcement that Jack Ranguma had clinched the governor ticket.
The angry crowd reacted violently, with one General Service Unit officer was hit by a stone on the head.
This prompted security officers at the scene to lob teargas canisters to disperse the protesting youth before the team that announced the results was escorted out of the venue.
Tension had been heightened by the long wait supporters had to endure for the release of the results. At 9pm, the impatient crowd attempted to force their way into the college.

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