Oburu Odinga handed direct ODM ticket
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's elder brother Oburu Odinga has been given a direct Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket to vie for the Siaya Senator seat in the August 9 polls.
Oburu now joins the current county Senator James Orengo who was given a direct party ticket to vie for the governor seat.
Others who will not go for nominations are Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo and Ugunja's Opiyo Wandayi.
Issuing direct tickets has been a norm of late among the leading parties.
On Tuesday, Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku got a direct ticket to defend his seat in the August 9, polls.
In Mombasa, the ODM party said it has been in talks with the leading governor seat candidates to reach a consensus.
Speaking on a local television station on Tuesday evening, ODM Chairman John Mbadi said the move will relieve the party from unnecessary primaries when a popular candidate is already known.
"For Mombasa gubernatorial race, we are trying to persuade one of our candidates to accept that the opponent is more popular," he said.
Mbadi, however, said the party may subject the candidates to universal suffrage if the consensus method fails to work.
"However, if we reach a dead end, we will let them go through universal suffrage," he added.
Mvita MP Nassir Abdullswamad Sheriff and Businessman Suleiman Shahbal are eyeing the ODM ticket for the coveted seat.
Opinion polls have consistently put Sheriff ahead of Shahbal in the race to get the ODM ticket.
