Two Members of the County Assembly who got one vote each in the recently held ODM nominations are optimistic about winning the seats as independent candidates.
The two, Joseph Orony of North Kanyamkago ward and his Kaler ward counterpart Born Ogolla, said they were rigged out in the primaries adding that they will not give up on their aspirations to become county legislators.
Orony got one vote out of the close to 2000 total votes cast emerging fifth in a contest in which the winner garnered 803 votes.
Ogola scooped a single vote in the nominations in a contest that the winner Sammy Jura got 311 votes to fly the ODM flag for the Kaler Ward in the August 9, General Election.
In a report by the Standard, Ogola exuded confidence that he will turn around the results stating that he will not be demoralized by the skewed nominations.
“Yes, I got one vote in these primaries, but I am hoping to turn around the outcome in August,” he said.
The hopefuls said the kits that were used in the ODM nominations were faulty, claims ODM has since dismissed.
“The results that the aspirants got were accurate. They reflect the aspirants’ campaign efforts,” an ODM official said.
Just like the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), ODM nominations in Nyanza were marred with irregularities including voter rigging claims, briber, and delayed kicking off of the exercise.
For instance, police officers arrested 12 suspects in Bondo just hours before the ODM nominations in the region.
The suspects, aged between 24 and 32, were nabbed after they were spotted in two vehicles with hidden number plates.
Upon searching the cars, police found five machetes, two clubs, and a booklet containing details of meetings with members associated with a politician vying for the Suna West parliamentary seat.
