IEBC dismisses ODM’s Homa Bay candidate’s petition
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has lost in its bid seeking to have Maendeleo Democratic Party candidate Philip Okundi disqualified from contest the Homa Bay Senatorial by-election.
ODM through their lawyer T.J. Kajwang, on behalf of the party’s candidate Moses Otieno Kajwang, had demanded that Mr. Okundi be summoned by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to answer to gross violation of electoral code of conduct.
But IEBC’s electoral code of conduct enforcement committee on Thursday dismissed the petition.
ODM had demanded that the committee chaired by County Returning Officer Maurice Raria disqualifies Mr. Okundi on the grounds of gross violation of code of conduct by sponsoring violence against other candidates.
Among those that were listed by ODM as respondents were Karachuonyo MP James Rege and his Rangwe counterpart George Oner.
In his ruling, Mr. Raria said the petition had been dismissed owing to none attendance by the complainant (Moses Kajwang) and his witnesses during a hearing that was however attended by all the three respondents.
“According to the law, the complainant must appear in person with his witnesses to give guidance on the allegations,” Mr. Raria said.