Women leaders threaten to boycott ODM elections

By JAMES MBAKA

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the upcoming Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) elections planned for next month after a section of senators and women representatives allied to the party threatened to rally women and youth to boycott the forthcoming National Delegates Conference (NDC).

Led by nominated senators Elizabeth Ongoro and Janet Ongera and Women Representatives Dennitah Ghati (Migori), Aisha Jumwa Katana (Kilifi), Alice Chae (Nyamira) and Mahbub Fathiya (Mandera), the women leaders also demanded that a third of all the posts up for grabs be reserved for women.

The women, who also included representatives of female Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs) from all the 47 counties, accused the party of sneaking in a corrupted party constitution that proposes to exclude some 1,880 women and youth delegates in the sub-branches from participating in the elections.

They argue that the party had unliterary decided to amend the constitution without the approval of the delegates and wanted to lock out the Orange Women Democrats League (OWDL) and the Orange Young Democrats League (OYDL) during the February 28 and March 1 NDC.

Party mole

Ongoro, who was endorsed by the women for the secretary general’s position, added that there was a ”party mole” that had been hired to ensure the  doctored constitution was used to limit women who attend the NDC.

“We are aware of the schemes being fuelled by some elements to install themselves or their allies but we will boycott the elections if our demands are not met,” said Ongoro.

Ongera , who until her nomination to the Senate was the party’s Executive Director, warned that the party risks losing an important segment of support through undemocratic elections. “This will be a defective NDC and if the party goes ahead to hold it without including all the segments, then we will think otherwise,” Ong’era said.