The final decision on Thursday by a High Court to annul the election of Ugenya MP Christopher Karan Odhiambo brought fresh memories in the case, in which the former MP David Ochieng was earlier accused of ‘killing’ IEBC ICT manager Chris Msando.

In December last year, Mr Ochieng told a Siaya High Court that he was unfairly linked to the brutal murder of Mr Msando.

The unfair treatment allegedly prompted Mr Ochieng to seek judicial redress, which pushed him to challenge the election of Christopher Karan, who has eventually lost his seat in the court ruling on Thursday.

Mr Odhiambo in his previous submissions in the petition decried of a scheme by ODM high end bigwigs in the region, who went on a rampage and declared war on any of his supporters, a move that favoured Christopher Karan.

Chased away

He told a court that his competitor, Mr Karan, went to the home of Mr Msando, at the height of mourning the departed Lifunga Village hero, and told mourners to chase him (Mr Ochieng) away “as he was involved in the murder.”

“This was the lowest moment during the campaigns, but I told my people to leave it to God,” said Mr Ochieng earlier.

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That was one of the piles of issues the former MP took to court. He also protested "utter violation and disregard of the Constitution and the laws governing the exercise" during the August 8 elections.

Mr Ochieng, during cross-examination by his lead counsel Richard Kwach, said the ODM party led a campaign which targeted his reputation, and engaged in electoral malpractices which spilled over to the voting day.

“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,” said Ochieng.

He told the court that 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.

Ochieng’s testimony corroborated other witnesses' accounts of the events on Election Day. Some said that illiterate voters were told to say ‘Raila gi lange’ (Raila and his people) when being assisted to vote.