MP aspirant disputes ODM nomination results, claims 'massive rigging'

By Peter Ochieng Kisumu East Parliamentary aspirant, Senior counsel James Aggrey Mwamu has disputed Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nomination results, claiming the exercise was marred with 'massive rigging.' ODM conducted primaries in Kisumu County on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Mwamu, contesting for the ODM ticket in Kisumu East parliamentary race, lost to Nicholas Oricho. Oricho was declared the winner after getting 4,533 votes, while the Senior counsel got 2,626 votes. Through a press statement shared on Saturday, April 23, 2022, and seen by this writer, Mwamu says his main competitor (Oricho) used underhand tactics to carry the day. "What happened in Kisumu East constituency during our party ODM primaries on April 19 this year was massive rigging perpetuated by Nicholas Oricho and his cronies," reads the statement in part. The former president of the East Africa Law Society has already filed an appeal, seeking for electoral justice. The matter will be heard on Sunday, April 24, 2022. "We must not allow the perpetrators of electoral injustices to reap from their illegal and fraudulent acts. Kindly keep the fire burning as we pursue change in Kisumu East." During the nominations, Ruth Adhiamno Odinga, ODM party leader Raila Odinga's sister won the women representative race, while Senior council Tom Ojienda won the senatorial race. Ojienda bagged the ticket after garnering 39, 336 votes against nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga who got 18,319, while Odinga got 23,665 votes against Rose Omondi's 13,685 votes. Kisumu, like the other Luo Nyanza Counties of Siaya, Homabay and Migori is a political bedrock of Odinga.