Alupe, the Busia village with two chairpersons

BUSIA. As residents of Alupe Village in Buteba Sub-county, Busia District, joined the rest of the country on July 10 last year to vote in the Local Council elections, they expected to choose one chairperson.
However, following the disputed election results, residents now have two village chairpersons, one serving the southern part and another the northern.

“That election left deep wounds, which have never healed,” Mr George Onyango, a resident, says.
“As a result, we have two village chairpersons. It is now up to individuals to decide between the two whom to invite to preside over their functions and to report their cases,” he adds.
Mr Sam Sihaire Murenga and Mr Philip Ekisa each claim to have won the village seat and have return forms from the Electoral Commission (EC) to prove it.

One of election return forms signed by Mr Frederick Baraza, who was the presiding officer, indicates that Mr Murenga won the polls by one vote after polling 204 votes against his rival’s 203 votes.
However, another election return form signed by Mr Andrew Ekodit, who was the polling assistant, declared Mr Ekisa winner with 224 votes against Mr Murenga’s 204 votes.

Mr Murenga, who had been the incumbent, leads the southern part while his counterpart leads the north.
They each have the mandate and official rubber-stamps. They carry out their duties as stipulated in the Constitution such as presiding over cases and other functions in their respective areas of operations.
Mr Ekisa told Daily Monitor that he conducts all activities on behalf of government because he is the elected chairperson.

“If you want to know that I won the polls, move around and ask my people. That is the reason why majority of them come to me for my stamp and other things. They trust me,” he says.
He, however, accuses Mr Baraza of trying to sell his victory. Mr Baraza denies the allegations.
Mr Murenga also maintains that he won the polls but his opponent refused to accept defeat.
“He connived with the polling assistant and the sub-county elections officer, Mr Anthony Akure, to rob me of my victory,” he says.

It is alleged that Mr Akure organised a fresh election on July 12, where he declared Mr Ekisa winner.
However, Mr Akure denies the allegations, saying he was not in the district on the said day.
Efforts by the district chairperson, Mr Geoffrey Wandera, and the deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr Paul Kalikwani, to mediate between the duo have been futile.

Mr Wandera says there is increasing insecurity in the area as a result of warring parties.
“There is conflict and violence between the supporters of each of chairperson. This is not good,” he says.
Residents fear to associate with either of the chairpersons because they risk being attacked.
Mr John Okello, a resident, appealed to government to intervene and restore peace.
“There is eminent escalation of the situation if the authorities do not address the crisis,” he says.
Mr Robert Oguttu, another resident, says the two are fighting because the village has a lot of resources and land.

“A small plot of land goes for not less than Shs10 million and the presence of gold in the village, which has attracted several mining companies, is making the job of the chairperson very important,” he says.
Gold mining is one of the major economic activities in the village.
Residents also accuse Mr Stephen Okunyuku, the sub-county chairperson, of recognising Mr Ekisa as the elected chairperson.

However, Mr Okunyuku denies the claim and urges the two parties to dialogue.
Mr Patrick Luke, the officer-in-charge of Busia Police Station, says they have registered several cases of violence and assault from the village since the disputed elections.
“We are concerned, but we do not have powers as police to decide who is the chairperson of Alupe,” Mr Luke says.

Ec perspective

An August 28, 2018, letter signed by Mr Sam Rwakoojo, the Electoral Commission secretary, disregarded the election results for Alupe that were signed by Mr Ekodit who declared Mr Ekisa winner.
“As the Electoral Commission, the person deployed as presiding officer in Alupe Village is Frederick Baraza and not Andrew Ekodit. Therefore, the person declared by Frederick Baraza is the elected chairperson,” the letter reads in part.

Mr Joseph Omona, the district returning officer, says Mr Murenga is the village chairperson. “He won and was declared the winner after he defeated his rival by one vote but his opponent has refused to accept defeat,” he said.

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