Samwel Kumba
12 August 2008
Nairobi — The row over the Kamukunji parliamentary seat winner will soon find its way to the Cabinet.
ODM has vowed to raise the issue, saying declaring PNU's Simon Mbugua the winner over ODM's Ibrahim Ahamed was against a court ruling.
The party secretary general Anyang' Nyong'o told a press conference at Orange House on Tuesday that he will ensure that democracy is upheld.
"We will raise this matter with the highest possible authority and fight for our stolen victory," said Prof Nyong'o.
He said the issue brought to the fore the need to establish a conflict resolution organ within the Coalition Government. He however said the Kamukunji issue was a conflict, rather than a crisis.
Majority
Prof Nyong'o said ODM, which faces the possibility of losing its majority in Parliament, feels aggrieved that State machinery was used to "rob their candidate of victory".
The party said ECK returning officer Pryscillar Wamiru, did not follow the court ruling.
"In my understanding, ECK was to carry out a complete re-tallying of the process and declare the winner thereafter. Instead, Ms Wamiru announced who, in her opinion, was the winner," said Prof Nyong'o.
Ms Wamiru had on Monday said that she had come to comply with a court directive issued on July 29.
Mr Mbugua was declared winner after ECK said that he had garnered 22,614 votes while Mr Ahamed got 16,016.
"We are waiting until the law is followed before we pursue the matter to the court of appeal," said Prof Nyong'o.
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