Arrests of politicians, claims of brazen voter bribery and harassment by police officers yesterday blurred the Bonchari by-election with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) asking the Director of Public Prosecutions to take action against the culprits.

ODM candidate Pavel Robert Oimeke said his agent at Nyamare Primary School was arrested under “mysterious circumstances”, terming the action unacceptable.

Oimeke said Riana Ward Rep Vincent Moisabi was apprehended and booked at Gesonso police station for unknown reasons.

“The arrest is meant to intimidate voters so that they do not show up to vote.

I urge the Returning Officer and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to intervene,” Oimeke told the press shortly after he cast his ballot.

The contest had narrowed to a three-horse race with Jubilee Party’s Zebedeo Opore and Teresa Bitutu of the United Democratic Alliance( UDA) and Oimeke emerging the main contenders.

Pundits also pointed out that the mini-poll had ignited sibling rivalry between Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and  Kisii County Governor James Ongwae. 

The governor and local Senator Sam Ongeri had accused Matiang’i of using security officers to harass Opore’s opponents following a police raid at Ongwae’s home.

The governor has been leading campaigns for the ODM candidate alongside Prof Ongeri and Kisii Woman Representative Janet Ong’era.

The poll also turned into a platform for aggressive competition between President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party, UDA which is associated with Deputy President William Ruto and Raila Odinga’s ODM which stakes the region as its turf.

Oimeke yesterday deplored the heavy presence of security officers and urged voters to turn up in large numbers at polling stations to exercise their democratic right.

Another candidate, Kevin Mosomi of the Party of Democracy Unity (PDU), who voted at Nyamokenye primary school polling station, claimed the heavy presence of security officers had created fear among the electorate

He alleged that supporters of some candidates were bribing voters as they headed to polling stations.

“I urge candidates to maintain peace. I want the election to be conducted in an accountable and transparent manner,” Mosomi told the press.

Bitutu, the UDA candidate, who cast her vote at Suneka primary school polling station, claimed that her key campaigner had been arrested.

“We have heard cases of harassment by police. I pray to God that the election will go on well.

It is the people, who encouraged me to vie for the seat,” said Bitutu, the widow of former area MP Oroo Oyioka, whose death prompted the by-election.

West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi claimed that 10 supporters of the UDA party had been arrested.

“On Monday, police were looking for me and others. We are aware we are on the radar and police want to arrest us. Bonchari people should not to be coerced to vote a certain individual,” the MP said.

Arrest claims 

ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen, in a statement, said police stormed a consultative meeting at Bomorenda Ward oganised by Woman Rep Ong’era and her Migori counterpart Pamella Odhiambo and dispersed them.

He pointed fingers at the Ministry of Interior, accusing state officers of interfering with the campaigns.  

“Throughout the campaign period, police officers and members of the provincial administration have been involved in the campaign of the Jubilee candidate,” said Ong’wen in a letter to the Independent  Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati.

“It  is our view that the acts by the Jubilee candidate, public and state officers attached to the Ministry of Interior and the Police Service amount to gross violation of the Election Offences Act,”  said the ODM official.

He also claimed that  unknown people had raided the home of Kisii County ODM chairman Kerosi Ondieki as he was being driven to his house with his wife and children at Riamasagara on the outskirts of Suneka town.

“They took their driver hostage, took Sh2,000 from him and asked him if he was among the people who were bribing voters on behalf of ODM,” reads the statement.

He said that on Monday night, police raided Ufanisi Resort in Kisii town where ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and national treasurer Timothy Bosire were staying with the intention of arresting the latter for unspecified offence.

And Jubilee Party chief agent Douglas Ogari said rivals attacked Bonyanchaire and Bomakombi assistant chiefs, adding they took the latter’s motorbike by force.

He also said the party’s chief agent for Itibo was slapped by UDA goons and challenged police officers to beef up security.

Ogari dismissed bribery allegations against the party, saying they had conducted aggressive campaigns and Opore would win.