Police in Rarieda Sub County are investigating incidences of violence that left several people nursing injuries and disrupted voting exercise in the constituency.
Six agents of ODM parliamentary candidate Otiende Amollo have recorded statements at Aram police station and sought medical attention after they were allegedly attacked by people from rival camp.
Dr. Paul Saoke, Otiende’s chief agent sustained injuries after he was attacked by goons allegedly linked to UDM aspirant Augustino Neto at Ruma poling center in an ugly incident that also left scores of voters injured.
During the incident, Neto was forced to shoot in the air to disperse the crowd after a melee ensued following altercation between Saoke and members of his camp.
The incident which was reported at Aram police station elicited condemnation from leaders in the constituency.
The legislator said that the law does not provide candidates with express ticket to access all polling centers and urged his main competitor Neto to desist from storming polling centers across the region as doing so only creates tension.
“The reason we have agents in every polling station is that they are the only people legally required to access the stations on our behalf. Throughout the day our competitor has been moving from station to station harassing and sometimes beating my agents. I have advised them to report the matter to police. I ask IEBC to strengthen security at the polling centers to avert incidences of violence,” Amollo said.
The UDM candidate who spoke to the media before the gun incident had alleged massive voter bribery by Amollo’s camp where voters were allegedly given money by Otiendes’ agents as they entered polling stations to buy their support.
Neto also took issue with IEBC for deploying NYS officers to man the stations saying they were incapable of guaranteeing security.
Besides Neto and Otiende other candidates for Rarieda parliamentary seat include Joseph Okweso (DAP Kenya), Bernard Odinga (UDA), Andrew Otieno (Independent) and Isiah Munje(Independent)
Siaya county police commandant Michael Muchiri confirmed the reports saying police did everything to contain the situation adding that further investigation will be done on the separate incidences.
By Brian Ondeng
