Raila party unveils elections team as violent aspirants to be locked out

ODM leader Raila Odinga (second left) with members of the ODM national elections board Judy Pareno (left) and Ibrahim Rashid (right) and party chairman John Mbadi after unveiling the board in Nairobi yesterday. [PHOTO: GEORGE NJUNGE/Standard]

ODM leader Raila Odinga stepped up his party's preparations for next year's elections by naming a team to conduct its nominations.

The party inaugurated the five-member National Elections Board that will oversee primaries planned for February for those seeking the party's ticket to run for MCA, MP, senator and governor.

Judith Pareno retained her position as the chairperson. Other commissioners are Robert Arunga (secretary general) and members Edward Nyale, Norah Anindo and Ibrahim Rashid.

The party reconstituted the elections board following disbandment of the other nine-member team in April based on recommendations by the Jotham Nyukuri-led task force.

Yesterday, Ms Pareno said the new board was ready to work, and warned party rank and file that they should expect change.

"It will not be business as usual. We are soon releasing our nomination rules to guide the next General Election and four ward by-elections in four counties slated for next month," she said.

Pareno said the board would vet candidates for the four ward by-elections on Monday and carry out nominations on September 10.

The by-elections in Mosiro (Kajiado), Sala (Tana River), Nyacheki (Kisii) and Kalokol (Turkana) will be held on Wednesday, according to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Raila will tomorrow head to Turkana County and thereafter to Kisii and Trans Nzoia counties to consolidate his support even as the 2017 polls beckon.

IEBC has directed that political parties must finalise their nominations and determine any intra-party disputes arising from party nominations by September 11.

ODM chairman John Mbadi said the party was committed to promoting peaceful elections.

"Any candidate who incites his or her followers to cause chaos or interfere with NEB will be barred from contesting and face other disciplinary measures," the Suba MP said.

Mr Mbadi also cautioned the party's county and ward officials against lying that they were in a position to issue nomination certificates to preferred people.

"ODM has been afflicted by chaos during party nominations, but we want to put a stop to this. That is why we are unveiling the elections board today, which will be independent and whose sole mandate is to manage elections," Mbadi said at Orange House yesterday.

He added that the board would not work under any other party organ or individuals.

"We have information that branch and ward chairmen in Homa Bay and other parts of the country are vetting candidates in readiness for the 2017 General Election. We warn them that this is an exercise in futility as they don't have powers to do so. Raila Odinga will not interfere with the (NEB) operations ," Mbadi said.