By Leo Odera Omolo
API/APN in Kisumu, Kenya14/12/07
ODM electioneering campaign in Luo Nyanza is dogged by confusion and violence as to whether the electorate should cast their votes on three-piece voting system or vote for individual personality cult.
The campaign is marred by the use of violence, which has already claimed one life, and a team of comprising of the immediate former Luo MPs had their series of meetings disrupted by supporters of the rival parties.
The major cause of discontent are those party aspirants who lost the ODM nominations during the party preliminaries and who have since switched to other parties and were duly nominated by the ECK to run for elections. Most of the losers in the partys preliminaries have jumped into the bandwagon of Charity Ngilus Narc.
Earlier this week a youth was stabbed to death when supporters of the ODM nominee for Migori constituency seat in Migori district John Pesa and those supporting immediate former MP for the area Charles Oyugi Owino (Jalikowa) came face to face and clashed at Kadika in Suna East location.
Hell broke out during and in the melee that followed a youth was fatally wounded in the knife attack. Police managed to quell the fracas and dispersed the combatant who left one of them dead.
In Suba district a parliamentary aspirant for Gwassi district was stabbed in the buttocks and admitted to Mbita sub district hospital .He was later flown to Nairobi for specialized treatment.
In Migori town a car which belonged to an ODM parliamentary aspirant in Nyatike Anyanga Dick came under the hails of bullet before it was seized by the would be assailant. The vehicle was later recovered abandoned in Kuria district. The motive of the attack remained unclear. But the aspirant was not hurt.
Earlier on a fight had broken out of the ODM Kisumu Town West offices .The fight involved the supporters of the ODM nominee John Olago Aluoch and the supporters of Narc nominee Rosah Buyu. It occurred in the presence of Raila and another Pentagon member Charity K Ngilu.
At the same time three parliamentary aspirants in Siaya district have appealed to Raila Odinga to intervene and ensure that Nyanza voters elect party presidential, parliamntray and civic candidate on a three-piece voting pattern.
James Aggrey Orengo (Ugenya) ,Jackoyo Midiwo (Gem), and Edwin Ochieng Yinda (Alego Usonga) while addressing a public rally at Akala in South Gem said the vehement opposition to the three-piece-voting pattern was worrying and could affect the composition of an ODM government formed by Raila Odinga ,if he wins the presidential elections on Dec 27th.
The trio want Raila Odinga to give direction saying aspirants with minority MPs at the same time they urged the voters in Luo Nyanza to reject candidates from parties other than ODM and to treat such aspirants as traitors
Meanwhile reports emerging out of Rongo constituency say the former MP George Ochillo Ayacko who lost disastrously to the former cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno is alleged to have adamantly and fragrantly refused to stop using the ODM colours in his campaigns.
Confrontations between Ayacko and ODM officials emerged during a meeting organized by the ECK officials for parliamentary and civic spirants held in Rongo town where the former MP is said to have insisted that he was still an ODM candidate despite having lost at the nominations on Nov 17.
The prevailing political tension in the region can have serious repercussions on Railas presidential ambitions because voters are going to be seriously divided .It could have negative impact on Railas control of the voters in Luo Nyanza.
Those who lost ODM nominations must stop using other parties to harass the winner. They must be patriotic enough and emulate the likes of Eng.Philip Okundi and others who have joined in the Presidential campaigns
