Pavel Oimeke, an ODM candidate, has been elected as the current Bonchari Member of Parliament.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Independent and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared his victory.
Zebedeo Opore of the Jubilee Party came in second with 7,279 votes, while Teresa Bitutu of the United Democratic Alliance came in third with 6,964 votes.
The mini-election was marred by isolated incidents of malpractice and voter bribery, but this, according to Nyanza Regional Police Commander Karanja Muiruri, was put to rest after some suspects were apprehended.
“We were deployed to promote peace, we do not have any hard feelings towards anyone, we are neutral and don’t discriminate against any Kenyan,” said The Nyanza Regional Police Commander Karanja Muiruri on Tuesday.
The strong police presence, according to ODM Premier Raila Odinga’s Twitter account, was an abuse of power and an arrogant show of impunity by a few overzealous and bellicose government functionaries during both the Bonchari and Juja by elections.
In addition, Odinga said “an election process is an opportunity for the voters to express their will at the ballot and not an avenue to pursue IMAGINARY and SHORT-LEGGED political interests. Security forces exist to serve the people and not the interests of those out to conduct political experiments. The peaceful co-existence post-2018 must NOT be taken for granted by some rogue elements wanting to confuse the HANDSHAKE for an excuse to ERODE our hard-earned liberties! This must STOP!”
