Siaya County gets back to the ballot box.

 Governor Cornel Rasanga loses his seat

The Siaya county Governor, Hon Cornel Rasanga has lost his seat in a court petition.Hon.  Rasanga however gets down into the history books as the first Siaya County Governor and the first Governor to loose his seat in a court petition.

High Court Judge Justice Aggrey Muchelule, nullified the March 4 election results for Siaya gubernatorial seat stating that it was characterized by massive irregularities and therefore Rasanga was not validly elected. He therefore gave a ruling and directed for a by-election.

  

In his ruling, Muchelule said the petitioner, William Oduol of the National Alliance Party of Kenya’s candidate had  convinced the court that the election was not free and fair. The court directed Hon Rasanga and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to meet the costs of the suit amounting to Sh3million, and which should be divided equally among them.

The court relied in the recount of votes in Gem, Bondo and Rarieda constituencies, and Nyasanda and Awelo Primary schools in making its verdict. He said the ballot boxes were tampered with before the recount was ordered and that the IEBC that was mandated to safeguard the votes having been the custodians, did not do so. He also noted that seals were missing or replaced from the ballot boxes,

 

 Oduol however said the court ruling was in the interest of Siaya people, and that it was now a proof that the era of impunity and dictatorship is long gone.