Independent candidate Brian Achieng has been announced as the new winner of the hotly contested South Gem ward by-election which was held on Thursday.
Achieng’ garnered a total of 3,569 votes against his closest Rival, Mr. Polycarp Wanga of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, who got a total of 3,453 votes, beating seven other candidates.
The election was, however,filled with chaos in some polling stations where supporters of the candidates decried voter bribery and violence.
As a result, at least eight people were injured and three vehicles damaged after chaos broke out in Aluor and Kambare polling stations
IEBC suspended the election for the MCA seat following the death of ODM candidate Nick Wanga in July this year.
Before the August 9, 2022 elections, the seat was held by David Audi, who won in 2017 after beating ODM’s candidate Peter Lolwe with 9,329 votes against 2,988.
According to the IEBC data, South Gem has 18,560 registered voters.
The candidates traversed the ward in a bid to sell their agendas to the electorates.
Last week, the ODM brigade led by Siaya Governor James Orengo camped in the ward drumming up support for the ODM candidate.
Achieng’s election now brings to four the number of MCAs elected on a non-ODM party, which dominates the county.
The MCAs for West Yimbo, North Gem, and East Asembo wards were elected on independent, Federal Party of Kenya (FPK) and United Democratic Movement (UDM) party tickets respectively.
Siaya County has 30 wards.
