The Orange Democratic Movement vetting process is meant to separate the loyalists from moles and joyriders.

Judith Pareno, the ODM Elections Board chairperson said the exercise, which ends on November 30, was meant to weed out members who only want to use the party’s popularity to achieve their selfish political ambitions, then abandon it later.

She said the vetting parameters include proof of loyalty, credibility and support to the party and its ideals.

Many prospective party candidates are not sure whether they will pass these stringent tests.

A part of its culture, ODM will also require each member to declare what they had done to advance the party’s interest. 

For example, one of the rules aspirants must meet is that they must have been actively involved in the party affairs six months prior to submitting their nomination papers.

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Aspirants must also have cleared all their monthly membership contributions. Pareno has assured the aspirants that the exercise will be free and fair.

“There is nothing to fear. I can assure you that the exercise will be free and fair,” she said.

John Mbadi, the ODM chairman said that the exercise will be conducted by the National Elections Board and not branch party officials.

News of the vetting is sending jitters across the ODM ranks with many of the incumbent governors, senators, MPs and MCAs fearing that they may be locked out for various reasons.

Among the jittery are those facing off with known ODM stalwarts who have immense influence in the party.

“Do you expect those vying against known party operatives like Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, James Orengo, John Mbadi, Junet Mohammed, Oburu Oginga, Timothy Bosire  and Opiyo Wandayi to sit  pretty as they wait for loyalty tests. Their fears are real,” pointed out an MP who sought anonymity.

Orengo, the Siaya Senator and Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo will be seeking to unseat Siaya governor Cornell Rasanga. In Kisumu, governor Jack Ranguma will face off with Prof Nyong’o and his deputy Ruth Odinga.

Last month, Ranguma said some of his opponents were boasting that they had the party certificates safely under their pillows.

Others who are jittery are leaders who were elected on other political parties in 2013 but have since returned to the party. They include Migori governor Okoth Obado, who was elected on a People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Awendo MP Jared Kopiyo (Ford Kenya), Muhoroni MP Onyango K’Oyoo (PDP) and Alego’s  Omondi Mulwan (Wiper). Last week, Gumbo, who chairs the powerful Public Accounts Committee expressed his fears over the vetting.

Gumbo said the process, if not well managed, could give room for some leaders to impose their friends on the electorate.

“The trend is undemocratic and is likely to lead to the infiltration by a crop of corrupt leaders who do not care about the concerns of the electorate. It is high time the electorate are left to choose their leaders,” Gumbo argued during a fundraiser at Bar Kalari Primary in Gem.

“There is no point for an aspirant to spend millions in campaigns to win the hearts of residents only for the party to give a nomination certificate to a favourite candidate. Each contestant must be given a fair chance to compete and voters given opportunity to vet and elect their candidate,” the PAC chair said.

He further dismissed the method used by the party in the last General Elections where distribution of the elective seats in the county depended on regional balance.

“I hope they change tack in 2017 because a leader should be elected based on what he can do for the people and not where he hails from,” Gumbo said.

Despite these fears, Mbadi assured the members that the party primaries will be free and fair.

“Even those who recently ran away and came back will have to face ODM National Elections Board and explain themselves before their statements are considered,” he said.

The party, is concerned that some of the aspirants were out to ride on its popularity to vie on its ticket only to switch allegiance after the elections.

Timothy Bosire, the ODM National Treasurer said the whole exercise was to ensure they have loyal members who stick to the party principles and ideals.

“We are set to clinch the presidency and nothing else. We have issues with some politicians who don’t want to uphold party ideals,” Bosire said.

Dr Adams Oloo, a political scientist said, when going into a ‘battle field’ the commander must be sure of the troops so that when he orders ‘the firing salvo’ he is confident of a win.