Homa Bay residents protests ODM nomination results declaring Governor Cyprian Awiti the winner. [Photo/nation.co.ke]

Do you have a lead on a newsworthy story? Share news tips with us here at Hivisasa!

Gunshots rent the air Tuesday morning as police officers tried to disperse protesters in Homa Bay county after incumbent Cyprian Awiti was declared the winner of the ODM governor nominations.

One person sustained a gunshot injury during the protests. 

County returning officer Erastus Otieno said Awiti won with 46,346 votes against Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga's 14,661.

The area residents were up in arms as they shouted that they will support Jubilee party leader Uhuru Kenyatta in August.

Magwanga took an early lead Monday evening against the Governor.

"This is clearly rigging. We will not agree. We will vote President Uhuru Kenyatta in August. Awiti has not done anything," one of the protesters said.

The enraged protesters said they expected Magwanga to win on grounds that the governor has failed on matters development.

The returning officer accused constituency party officials of holding them at ransom after they delayed to submit some of the results.

"We cannot wait any longer for constituency officials who don't want to hand in what they have. We, therefore, have to release the results we have," Otieno said.

Otieno, who was accompanied by the county election board chairman Tom Cheriga, refused to explain how they came up with the results.

"We've waited the whole night for some constituency results to trickle in but all in vain," he said.

The officials announced the results amid heavy presence of the police at Homa Bay high school tallying centre.

Magwanga's agent Lameck Okeyo disputed the results, saying they were doctored.

"You cannot call the press at dawn to stage-manage the release of results. We know the winner in governor race," Okeyo said.