ODM aspirant accuses Ruto allies of bribery in mini-poll

Confusion and claims of voter bribery marred Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) primaries in Msambweni yesterday.

One of the aspirants, Omari Boga, claimed that forces allied to Deputy President William Ruto were dishing out money to tilt the outcome of the exercise in favour of Nicholas Zani, his opponent.

“The Tanga Tanga camp has been issuing money to the electorate not to vote for me, while others advised not to cast their vote completely,” Boga claimed.

Hundreds of voters who had turned up to vote failed to cast their votes after their names were found missing in the party register. 

 ODM Msambweni branch Organising Secretary Shaban Luchesi told People Daily that the aspirants had earlier reached a consensus with the National Election Committee (NEC) that they will use the party register as well the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) one. 

“We are shocked with what is going on because whatever was planned between the aspirants and NEC has totally been changed,” Luchesi said.  

 He added: “We suspect rigging is going on. Whatever is happening is so fishy.” Boga blamed the party’s NEC for the confusion.

Zani on the other hand said the poll was going on well and described the challenges as ordinary.

 “I think all is well. Challenges of delays of voting materials in some polling stations are normal.

That should not be an issue since time will be compensated according to how the exercise started,” Zani said.

Zainab Choka, one of the voters whose names were missing from the register expressed disappointment.

 “I am not happy at all. I woke up early in the morning to come and vote only to be disappointment, “ Choka said.