Battle lines drawn as ODM polls near

By JAMES MBAKA and RUSHDIE ODILA

Nominated Senator Agnes Zani has become the first aspirant to publicly declare her candidature for the secretary general of ODM.

Addressing the press in Nairobi, Dr Zani said she will bring her rich organisational and management skills earned while serving as university lecturer.

“Our party is the only party with a national appeal and I will ensure we partner with the youth, women and the old to move it forward,” she said.

Zani urged leaders from the coastal region to go slow on their agitations to form a regional political party saying there was more hope in building ODM.

She is likely to face fellow nominated senator Elizabeth Ongoro in the National Delegates Convention slated for February 28 and March 1.

“We must work on how we carry out our nominations and I’m suggesting that they are done some six months to the general election to give room to solve internal party issues emanating from nominations,” Ongoro said.

Outgoing secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o has not indicated whether he will defend his seat. Others seeking to replace Prof Nyong’o are Siaya Senator James Orengo and MPs Ken Obura, Nicholas Gumbo, Ababu Namwamba, John Mbadi, Junet Mohamed and Joseph Chepkwony.

Elsewhere, Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang is to officially launch his campaign for ODM vice chair’s position today at Kisumu’s Imperial Hotel.

Kajwang’ will battle it out with nominated Senator Janet Ong’era, Eldas MP Adan Keynan and Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok.

 Nyando MP Fred Outa has also hinted that his main aim is to sit in the NEC but did not disclose which seat he will be going for. Outa said the party elections will be free and fair and that they will emerge stronger than ever.

Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati is the only person going to battle it out with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the position of party leader.