The much-anticipated ODM County elections in Kakamega descended into drama on Sunday afternoon after Governor Fernandes Barasa staged a dramatic boycott of the exercise, citing dissatisfaction with the voting method.

Tensions flared when the Presiding Officer, Returning Officer, and the electoral team mandated to oversee the polls announced that the elections would be conducted through a secret ballot system.

The move was meant to ensure transparency and credibility in the process. However, Governor Barasa rejected the decision, insisting on the controversial Mulolongo (queuing) method, a system long associated with intimidation and manipulation.

Sources at the venue revealed that Barasa, sensing defeat at the hands of Lugari Constituency MP Nabwera Nabii, refused to participate under the secret ballot arrangement. His walkout triggered chaos as a section of his supporters disrupted the exercise, forcing the officials to suspend voting altogether.

The aborted elections have only strengthened the resolve of ODM delegates from across Kakamega, many of whom have now openly thrown their weight behind Hon. Nabwera Nabii. Delegates who spoke after the scuffle vowed to back Nabwera to take over as County Chair once the exercise resumes, citing his commitment to party unity and grassroots empowerment.

“This is a defining moment for ODM in Kakamega. We want leadership that reflects fairness and democracy. Nabwera has our full support,” one delegate told reporters.

Several Members of Parliament, among them Shinyalu MP Titus Khamala, Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka, and Women Representative Elsie Muhanda, were present and witnessed the unfolding drama.

Political analysts have noted that the fallout could further widen cracks within the ODM leadership in Kakamega. Governor Barasa, who has been seeking to cement his influence within the party at the county level, now faces an uphill task as Nabwera appears to be consolidating overwhelming grassroots support.

With the elections postponed, all eyes will be on the ODM electoral body as it reschedules the exercise. The outcome is expected to have far-reaching implications for ODM’s political dynamics in Western Kenya ahead of the 2027 general elections.