Fake news headline mars ODM nomination in Busia – PHOTOS
ODM nominations in Busia County started on a wrong foot after leaflets bearing a fake newspaper headline were distributed to malign an aspirant eyeing the gubernatorial seat.
A tough contest is expected between Governor Sosepeter Ojamoong’ and Funyula MP Paul Otuoma.
The leaflets bore a fake Daily Nation frontpage with a headline that claimed Mr Otuoma had defected to Jubilee Party.
Also distributed on Wednesday night were posters that declared Mr Otuoma a Jubilee candidate for the gubernatorial seat.
The posters bore Jubilee Party symbol together with portraits of Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba, President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy President William Ruto.
Governor Ojamoong told journalists at Busia Township Primary School on Thursday that content of the leaflets “are true but he is not aware of their origin.”
He accused his rival of being a Jubilee project.
Rowdy youth reportedly smashed deputy Governor Kizito Wangalwa’s vehicle, deflated its tires and attacked the driver on Wednesday night after suspecting he was distributing the leaflets and posters.
Mr Wangalwa’s liasion officer, Lambert Ogochi, told Nation that the deputy Governor was not in the vehicle at the time of the attack.
“I was being driven home when a group of youth stopped our vehicle near Marachi Estate, deflated the tires and smashed one of the windows before giving the driver a thorough beating. They also stole a laptop and an Ipad during the incident,” Mr Ogochi said.
Nation team found the vehicle parked at the County headquarters but by 7 am the matter had not been reported to the nearby Busia Police station.
Butula police boss Stephen Wambua said they have launched investigations into the matter.
“The matter has been brought to our attention and we are doing investigations,” said Mr Wambua.