86 aspirants to fight it out in ODM national elections

Aspirants contesting ODM posts in the forthcoming national elections (from left) Abdikadir Aden, Agnes Zani and Opiyo Wandai after addressing a Press conference at a Nairobi hotel Wednesday. They denied claims the party’s National Elections Board is biased. [PHOTO: Collins Kweyu/STANDARD]

By JAMES MBAKA

NAIROBI, KENYA: The heat over elections in the Orange Democratic Movement rose up a notch after the party unveiled the names of 86 people vying for leadership posts, as some aspirants pledged a joint campaign.

The seven legislators, seen by some to have the backing of party leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, told off some of their colleagues from Nyanza who recently withdrew their candidature alleging they were forced to quit to clear the way for the “preferred candidates.” Coming out publicly together for the first time Wednesday, after weeks of heightened political theatrics, the seven fought back claims of a predetermined line-up for the February 28 ODM polls.

Senators Otieno Kajwang’ (Homa Bay) and Agnes Zani (nominated), and MPs Paul Otuoma (Funyula), Opiyo Wandayi (Ugenya), Abdikadir Aden (Mbalambala), Dennitah Ghati (Migori) and Fatuma Nzomo (Mandera) addressed journalists at a Nairobi hotel moments before the release of the names at Orange House. 

They hit out at those alleged to have been forced to back down from the contest, terming them cowards who had sensed imminent defeat.

“Those were just amorphous declarations from people who had assessed their chances of winning and found them to be nil. As far as we are concerned nobody coerced them,” said Wandayi, who read the statement on their behalf.

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A section of youthful politicians from Nyanza have claimed they had wanted to run for leadership positions, but were forced to drop their bids by Raila.

Some, however, said they withdrew for the sake of party unity.  But on Wednesday, the seven said they were not trampling on anyone’s right to vie for leadership positions in the Orange party.

CREDIBLE POLLS

“We will continue building consensus to ensure that the party meets the requirements of regional and gender representation and if by that some will drop their bids then that will take us to the next level of forming the government in 2017,” Zani said.

The team oozed confidence and referred to one another by the positions they were seeking.

“We want the next chairman of the party…can our secretary general respond to that...” Kajwang’ said, referring to Zani and Otuoma respectively.

But other reports suggested there was another camp with representatives from Coast, Rift Valley, Western and Nairobi that supports Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho as the deputy party leader, Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok as chairman and nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro as secretary general.

The team also tipped Aldas MP Adan Keynan for vice chairman, George Aladwa for deputy organising secretary, Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba for secretary for legal affairs and Peter Ntoyian for deputy secretary general. Namwamba is, however, vying to become the secretary general.

Zani’s team defended the party’s National Elections Board (Neb), saying they had faith the Judith Pareno-led team would conduct credible elections.

A section of aspirants have cast aspersions on Neb, saying the inclusion of some members who served on the previous team that was accused of bungling last year’s nominations eroded confidence.

In the list circulated to newsrooms, Neb member Peter Mutulu had applied for the position of deputy national treasurer before he was appointed to join the board. The list indicates that he stepped down.

But Ms Pareno said: “By virtue of the fact that I have climbed ranks in the board from a member in 2008 all the way to the chair is an indication that the party has confidence in me and we will do a good job.”

She admitted that party nominations during last year’s General Election were bungled.

“If the nominations were bungled then it started with aspirants. They contributed, but we have an opportunity to arrest the mistakes we made by giving this party a leadership that represents the will of the delegates,” she said.

Kajwang’ is contesting the vice chairperson’s position while Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi is eyeing the deputy secretary general’s post.

QUIT THE PARTY

Kajwang’ will face Keynan while Wandayi will battle it out with Peter Ole Musei, Simon Lilian, nominated MP Isaac Mwaura, Paul Partoire and Lawrence Gumbe.

Zani is vying for secretary general, which had attracted a record number of contestants before the controversial withdrawals. She will replace Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o who will not be defending his seat. Namwamba, Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and Ongoro are also seeking the secretary general’s post.

Otuoma is contesting the chairmanship, seeking to take over from former Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey who has since quit the party.

He will battle it out with MPs Manson Nyamweya (South Mugirango), Mpuru Aburi (Tigania East), Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok and Isaac Mwilu.