ODM kicks off nominations today to pick candidates
A showdown looms in the Orange Democratic Movement as it kicks off primaries across the country today.
A schedule released by ODM shows the party has staggered the nominations, which kicks off in Nakuru today. The exercise will resume on Monday in Taita Taveta and Kwale counties.
On Tuesday, ODM Elections Board Chairperson Catherine Mumma said only registered members will be allowed to vote.
“We have received our membership list from the Registrar of Political Parties and will be used in the nominations. Only party members will participate,” she said.
Yesterday, ODM Nakuru branch said it was adequately prepared to hold the primaries. County branch Secretary General Hilton Abiola said they would field candidates in strategic areas that the party enjoys massive support.
Abiola also said the party will field candidates in Nakuru Town East and West parliamentary seats, and Ward Reps in parts of Naivasha, Rongai and major urban areas. He called on members to turn out in large numbers to participate in the nominations.
“Today’s primaries are squarely managed by NEB, and they are already on the ground to ensure a free, fair and smooth exercise,” he said.
In Nakuru Town East, ODM faces a litmus test as lead aspirants; Abdirahman Ismail and Issa Okello go head-to-head in the primaries.
They both wield massive support and a move to have consensus hit a snug last week. This was after a meeting by some party members to have Abdirahman step down for Okello failed after supporters of the former opposed it.
They argue that Abdirahman is more popular than Okello hence the party should re-think about the decision of direct tickets. Okello and Abdirahman have, however, expressed confidence of emerging victorious. “Let us not see monkey business, we expect members to make their decisions through the ballot,” said Okello.
However, in a contrasting situation, in Nakuru Town West, the party awarded Dr Isoe Ochoki a direct ticket after other aspirants resolved to support his candidature.
Ochoki was contesting for the seat with Hezron Okiki, who recently withdrew from the race.
Formidable force
According to the duo, the matter was ratified by the party election commissioners, shelving the much-awaited nominations for the constituency.
“We have had consensus and Okiki opted to support me so that we can present a formidable force in our quest to secure the parliamentary seat for ODM,” said Ochoki.
Other areas the party is expecting to field candidates include Olkaria Ward in Naivasha, Kivumbini and Kaptembwo in Nakuru Town West. In Kisumu, governor aspirant Ken Obura challenged incumbent Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o to bow out of the race in the spirit of consensus building within the Orange party. Obura asked Nyong’o to follow the footsteps of ODM party national chairman John Mbadi, who withdrew his candidature for the Homa Bay county gubernatorial seat after a negotiated agreement.
On Monday, the Suba South MP announced that he had withdrawn from the race and will henceforth concentrate on Raila’s presidential bid.
Yesterday, Obura noted that just like Mbadi, Nyong’o should forgo his interest in order to focus on supporting Raila’s campaigns. “What we witnessed in Homa Bay is a demonstration of real democracy. We want the same to happen here in Kisumu. I, therefore ask Nyong’o to follow suit,” he said.
On Wednesday, however, Nyong’o’s deputy Mathews Owili and Kisumu Central MP Fred Ouda came to the governor’s defence, saying he should be given a direct ticket.
Owili said his boss did not deserve to be subjected to the nominations exercise due his loyalty to the party and his political status.
By Roy Lumbe, Noven Owiti and Kepher Otieno
