ODM MPs warn against giving Outa direct ticket

By SUNDAY STADARD REPORTER

Kenya: A split is looming in Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on the choice of candidate for the by-election.

Some Nyanza MPs have warned that Fred Outa should not be given a direct party ticket because he is not strong enough to win the by-election.

Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura said Outa is unpopular in the region and the party risks losing the seat if he is allowed to contest.

Outa, who is a close ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, is likely to receive little support from a group of youthful MPs drawn from the region over the claims he had made that the legislators had been paid to sabotage the Orange party.

Obura said ODM should conduct nominations in the constituency and not favour anybody for the seat.

ODM having lost two successive by-elections in Kisii, Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo said the Nyando and Migori by-elections would be a litmus test for ODM’s popularity in the region, adding that the party must take the elections seriously.

“As a party, we must work hard to recapture the seats because they belong to ODM,” Ms Odhiambo said.

The nullification of Outa’s election was a huge blow to the Orange party that is trying to recover from a botched February national elections during its national delegates conference in Nairobi.