Sakwa ODM chairman dead after accident, not elections chaos - Party

The ODM has announced the death of the newly elected North Sakwa ward chairman, but maintained it is not connected to its grassroots elections.

Peter Oduor Otuoma died after an accident in Rongo constituency, 30km from the polling station where he was elected, said Communications director Philip Etale.

Etale said the official was on a motorbike when it was hit by a private car on Monday night, and died while undergoing treatment at Kisii hospital.


"This was around 9pm, five hours after the election exercise had been closed. This had nothing to do with the party election," he said in a statement to newsrooms.

"On realising that the person knocked down by the Probox was a man they knew, residents from where the accident occurred pounced on the occupants of the vehicle, beat them and caused them severe body pain and injuries."

Etale accused the media of spinning the incident to make it seem election-related, saying "nothing can be further from the truth", and urging verification of facts.

"It is worth noting that ever since the election began on August 29, in Vihiga, Migori, Kilifi, Kajiado, Wajir and Marsabit counties, the media has not reported anything about the peaceful atmosphere in which the exercise is taking place," he said.

"It is unfortunate that the distinguished media had chosen to give much publicity on an incident of a road accident and the subsequent criminal action by residents who were reacting to the accident."

Etale said ODM Executive director Oduor Ong'wen spoke with officers at the police headquarters, "to correct the distorted report of the incident by the Migori county police commander".

The elections were marred by confusion on Monday over conflicting reports about the deaths of three people when chaos erupted at a polling station in the county.

Police reports suggest the three died of panga cuts and stab wounds after violence broke out at Ringa Primary School, in the Sakwa Kadera area of Awendo constituency.

The violence was triggered by claims of two parallel lists of delegates who were to vote in the polls.

Rongo OCPD Muganda Kisaka confirmed the deaths, saying the police had launched investigations, and promising to arrest the culprits.

But the party dismissed reports of violence in a statement and declared the deaths of the three individuals had nothing to do with the elections.