ODM members stranded as Komarock Ward nomination exercise stalls
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members at Komarock ward in Nairobi County woke up to a shocker after they found polling stations where they were supposed to cast their votes in the ongoing nomination closed.
ODM members and aspirants got stranded after they were informed that the Ward is a Jubilee party zone and that nominations would not be held in the area.
Led by Martin Mutisya, an aspirant, the party members took issue with ODM party officials for poorly communicating whether or not the primaries would be held.
"It's a sad day for democracy. After preparing for that long and using resources, we found the polling stations closed. The main issue is that there was no communication and we feel like we wasted resources campaigning," said Mutisya.
They accused Azimio La Umoja of zoning the area to be a Jubilee zone expressing fear that should Raila Odinga become the next president, he stands to be a Head of State without foot soldiers.
"Azimio La Umoja did their zoning without our involvement. Our people woke up early to exercise their democratic right and it's very sad that they're still stranded. ODM must address this issue urgently," another contender said.
Coletta Ayola, a voter decried that ODM stands to lose to other political parties if they fail to conduct the exercise.
"We will decamp to UDA or run as independent candidates if they fail to address this issue. If ODM does not conduct nominations on Komarock, then Raila will go to Bondo," she said.
The standoff happened as aspirants continue to protest issuance of direct nomination certificates and rigging in the ongoing primaries with parties such as UDA having concluded the exercise.
