ODM Primaries: Chaos erupt at Homa Bay tallying center ahead of result announcement

Chaos was witnessed at Homa Bay county tallying centre for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party primaries in the wee hours of Friday ahead of announcement of results.

Police officers were forced to fire in the air and lobe teargas canisters on aspirants and their supporters who had been waiting at Homa Bay High School for vote tallying to begin since Thursday night.

The fracas started at the tallying hall when aspirants for the positions of MCAs, Woman Representative and two parliamentary aspirants (Ndhiwa and Karachuonyo constituencies) were seated patiently waiting for the results of the primaries to be announced.

Party officials who were overseeing the nomination exercise, through security officers ordered the aspirants and their supporters to get out of the hall which had turned chaotic.

However, some aspirants and their supporters disobeyed the orders and choose to be inside the hall, promoting the officers to lobe teargas canister inside and outside the hall to disperse the huge crowd who were waiting for the results.

Gunshots immediately followed, causing confusion and panic at the tallying hall.

All hell broke loose within minutes as everyone lied on the floor to save their lives from flying bullets as those who were at the tallying centre, including journalists, scrambled for their safety.

No one was injured during the incident although some properties such as plastic chairs were destroyed, as well as window panes shuttered.