Parliamentary aspirant Newton Onyango Ogada has officially contested the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party nominations in Kasipul Constituency, citing electoral malpractice and irregularities.
Ogada, through his lawyers, has filed a complaint with the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) under a certificate of urgency, seeking to nullify the September 24, 2025 nomination exercise.
Seeking to Halt IEBC from Gazetting ODM Nominee
Ogada is requesting the Tribunal to issue an injunctions barring the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from accepting or gazetting Boyd Were as ODM’s duly nominated candidate for Member of Parliament in the upcoming Kasipul by-election, scheduled for November 2025.
He is also seeking orders to restrain both ODM officials and IEBC from recognizing the outcome of the disputed nomination process.
Claims of Violence and Intimidation on Polling Day
In a supporting affidavit, Ogada details a violent incident that allegedly occurred between 2:00 pm and 2:30 pm on polling day. According to him, a group of armed youth allied to his rival stormed Beril Medical Centre, where he and his team had gathered.The attackers allegedly: Smashed windows, damaged medical equipment and vandalized vehicles
Ogada claims the group held him hostage for over two hours, effectively stopping him from coordinating agents or monitoring the electoral process.
Allegations of Widespread Electoral Malpractice
Ogada further alleges multiple forms of electoral fraud during the nomination process, including:
- Multiple voting
- Itinerant voters casting ballots in more than one station
- Participation of underage children
- Absence of a verifiable ODM party membership register
He claims presiding officers resorted to using national identity cards for voter identification in the absence of a party register. An approach he argues enabled non-members and minors to vote.
Accusations Against Election Officials
Ogada also accuses presiding officers and clerks of partisanship, claiming they were allies of Boyd Were. He alleges that:
- Complaints from his agents were ignored or dismissed
- Some of his agents were expelled from polling stations
- Ballot materials arrived late in several areas, yet voting closed early, thereby disenfranchising voters
Procedural Flaws Highlighted
The applicant also raises procedural concerns, stating that:
- Polling stations were merged or relocated without public notice
- Incident registers were not properly maintained
- Tally sheets were inconsistently filled
- Some results were announced verbally, lacking transparency and accountability
Internal Appeal Dismissed by ODM
Ogada initially appealed the outcome through the ODM internal dispute resolution tribunal on September 25, 2025. However, the case was dismissed on September 29, with a copy of the ruling only shared with him on September 30.
Now turning to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, Ogada seeks judicial intervention to overturn the nomination results. The PPDT has scheduled the hearing of the matter for Monday, October 6, 2025.
Conclusion
This legal challenge adds a dramatic twist to the Kasipul by-election race, raising critical questions about party primaries, electoral fairness, and the role of oversight institutions like the IEBC and PPDT.
