Give us time to clean up mess, say ODM chiefs

ODM has urged members to remain steadfast despite the party suffering defeats in recent by-elections.

Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna admitted they were facing challenges but assured that they would address them before the 2022 General Election.

"We know that there are some people who are disappointed and their faith is waning in the party. But I urge them to be patient as we put our house in order," Sifuna said

Mr Sifuna said although the party was not meeting the expectations of most members, there was renewed vigor to revamp it.

"We are currently pre-occupied with holding grassroots elections next year and we are asking all members to prepare to participate in the exercise," said the ODM Secretary General during Nyatike MP Tom Odege's homecoming on Friday. ODM leaders asked members to brace for radical changes which will consolidate the party's grassroots support in the wake of wrangles in some branches.

Sifuna said ODM had appointed a three-member committee to review nomination rules.

ODM last year formed a task force headed by Catherine Mumma to review the party primaries rules. This stemmed from concerns that the regulations were to blame for the party’s dismal performance in elections.

The team comprised party National Elections Board chairperson Judy Pareno (Nominated Senator), Jared Okelo (Nyando MP) and executive director Oduor Ong’wen.

The team is expected to fine-tune the taskforce report and give recommendations to NEC on how future nominations will be conducted. In the past, the party has lost seats due to bungled primaries. 

Party chairman John Mbadi asked supporters to be patient as they figure out what led to defeats in the Ugenya and Embakasi South constituencies by-elections.

"The by-elections were an eye-opener and a pointer to re-look ways of fixing the party ahead of 2022," he said.