TRAINING for IEBC clerks turned ugly after participants fought for food in Siaya town yesterday. The 1,070 clerks, majority of them teachers from Alego Usonga constituency, were undergoing the three-day session at Central Primary School when they were told lunch was not enough.

The participants, who included a few women, hurriedly picked the few available plates as cooks dashed for safety. The participants went for each other's neck in a struggle that shocked resi- dents who watched from a distance.

Several clerks were injured in the 10-minute brawl as others left the scene in torn clothes that were drenched in soup. Some participants claimed the catering com- pany that won the food supply tender had inad- equate facilities and could not effectively serve the number that turned up for the seminar. The teachers later moved to nearby hotels in Siaya town in search of more food.

Alego Usonga IEBC returning officer Benson Esuza said the budget for the seminar was inadequate and pledged to investigate the matter on his return to Siaya town.