Former Ugenya MP David Ochieng on Wednesday told the Siaya High Court that he was unfairly linked to the brutal murder of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ICT Manager Chris Msando.
Testifying during the hearing of his case challenging the win of now Ugenya MP - Christopher Karan - Mr. Ochieng alluded that the unfair connection to the death of Msando cost him the Parliamentary seat.
He divulged that ODM brigade in the region went on a rampage and declared war on any of his supporters.
playLate IEBC ICT Manager Chris Msando (Facebook)
The former MP recounted the times as one of his lowest moments noting that Karan, who was vying on an ODM ticket even rallied mourners to block him from attending Msando’s burial.
“This was the lowest moment during the campaigns, but I told my people to leave it to God,” Ochieng was quoted in a report by the Standard.
Ochieng defected from the Orange Party days to the General Election and formed The Movement for Democracy and Growth Party where he is the party leader.
He mentioned that the defection saw the ODM brigade spread rumors that he was affiliated to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee party.
playFormer Ugenya MP David Ochieng (Facebook)
“My opponent, having been aware that there was a Jubilee Party candidate in the contest, went ahead to link my party to Jubilee, telling voters that a vote to me was a vote to Jubilee Party and its presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said.
He further told the court that his opponent also engaged in electoral malpractices before and during the election day.
According to Ochieng his opponent used underhanded tactics to scare away his supporters.
“Leaders threatened voters by telling them that the coalition had laid down technological structures, linked to the KIEMS system, which would allow them to identify those who vote for Ochieng, which would attract consequences,” the court heard.
During the Election, Ochieng garnered 23,418 votes against his challenger, ODM’s Mr. Chris Karan, who garnered 23,765 votes.
