Kenya: Odinga's party wins by-elections

  1. Posted on Thursday 12 June 2008 - 14:06
    DeeDee
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    Dennis Itumbi, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya
    Kenya's Orange Democratic Party (ODM) the party associated with Prime Minister Raila Odinga walked home with victory in three out of the five by-elections in the East African Nation Wednesday.
    Raila_Odinga_Evans
    The Party of National Unity (PNU) however won in the two most hotly contested constituencies Embakasi inj Nairobi and Kilgoris in the Rift Valley.

    Victories for ODM were a major consolation after it lost two of its key members in a plane crash two days ago.

    Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka later issued a statement saying that the by-elections had not interfered with the unity of the Grand Coalition.

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  1. Posted on Thursday 12 June 2008 15:54
    Evans Wafula
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    Evans Wafula
    158 berichten
    Lid sinds July 2007

    The dust appears to have settled – at least for now – in Kenya where the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the Party of National Unity (PNU) had locked horns in the just concluded by-elections as voters have decided on who would be their representatives following the death of two ODM legislators and irregularities that mared the Kilgoris seat.

    The ODM eventually turned out to be the winner – although some people in government are disputing the result.

    Nevertheless, ODM is in the coalition with PNU as an equal member and the process of reconciling the country should be our priority. However, there is the other issue of internal democracy within the opposition which leaves alot to be desired. We would hope that parties in the coalition would be ready to work with the each other in the interest of the country.

    Both PNU and ODM had much to do with the violence that took place before and after the December election. Its in this context that l feel that the coalition government need to be held accountable for playing into the hands of a few selfish leaders who are perpetuating ethnic hate among Kenyans. After all, apart from minor grumbles here and there, the by-elections went on well with little violence reported in Kilgoris as a result of the ethnic hot pot that has become characteristic of the vote in that region.

    Dennis, your update is accurate but the ladies vote was lost in Embakasi
  2. Posted on Thursday 19 June 2008 19:11
    DeeDee
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    DeeDee Dee
    116 berichten
    Lid sinds October 2007
    Nairobi, Kenya

    Dee can do much better kudos to your work