The ODM is saddened by the death of one of its members and newly elected chairman of North Sakwa Ward in Awendo c

Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga (in specs) restoring calm at Macalder Grounds on August 31. Nyatike had peaceful elections

The deceased was riding on a motorbike when they were hit by a Toyota probox car in Rongo constituency and died while undergoing treatment at Kisii hospital.

However, despite the sad news, the media which has been unusually quiet on the party grassroots exercise in the six Counties since its commencement last Saturday, is trying to spin the incident to look like election related incident.

Nothing can be further from the truth. The accident occurred in Rongo Constituency, thirty kilometres away from the polling station where the deceased was elected. On realising that the person knocked down by thr Toyota probox was a man they knew very well, the local residents from where the accident occurred, pounced on the occupants of the vehicle, beat them and caused them severe body pain and injuries.

This was around 9pm, five hours after the election exercise had been closed. This had nothing to do with the party election.

It is worth noting that, ever since the election began on Saturday 29 in Vihiga, Migori, Kilifi, Kajiado, Wajir and Marsabit Counties, the media has not reported anything about the peaceful atmosphere in which the exercise is taking place.

It is unfortunate that the distinguished media had chosen to give much publicity on an incident of a road accident and the subsequent criminal action by residents who were reacting to the accident.

We urge the media to employ the basic principle of facts verification before rushing to break news.

The ODM Executive Director Mr. Oduor Ong’wen has already spoken with the Kenya Police Headquarters to correct the distorted report of the incident by the Migori County Police Commander.

Philip Etale
Director of Communications – ODM
31st August 2015