ODM reschedules primaries as new law begins to bite

The Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu, December 2021. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Tough requirements imposed by the recently enacted political parties law have forced ODM to postpone its primaries that were planned for this week.

It has emerged that the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) is yet to submit a certified list of registered ODM party members.

The new law requires that only registered members are allowed to participate in party nominations. The register has to be certified by ORPP.

The Raila Odinga-led outfit had planned to start the make-or-break exercise today through to April 21 but cannot proceed in the absence of the list.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has set April 22 as the deadline for party primaries.

ODM National Elections Board Chairperson Catherine Mumma told The Standard that the party had written to the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu on March 3, requesting for the list.By yesterday, the certified list was not ready, implying that the outfit will have to wait before announcing new dates for its staggered primaries.

“We will be doing the primaries using the register of party members certified by ORPP. We applied for that register on March 3, the register should have been given to us, but they have not yet given it to us,” said Ms Mumma.

“Until we get it we cannot proceed. Our time has slid a little bit; we will review that timetable,” she added.

Ms Nderitu yesterday said they were in the process of cleaning ODM membership list before they can submit the document for nominations.

Ms Nderitu explained that the office has to run the data against the Integrated Population Registration Database System to confirm if the listed members are Kenyans.

Further, the office has to certify that the listed members do not belong to another political party.

She disclosed that at least five other parties have made a similar request. Ms Nderitu assured parties that they have the necessary systems to provide certified membership lists within the shortest time.

Deputy President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) are some of the outfits that have requested their certified lists. UDA plans to conduct its nominations from April 9 to 16.

ODM leader Raila Odinga. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Ms Nderitu said her office has to ensure those listed as aspirants are included in the register to avoid instances where names of aspirants are missing from the party list.

“It is a process; we must run it against the national registration data to confirm they are Kenyans, we have to confirm that they are not children and that they belong to one party,” she said.

“It is a lot of work but we have systems to do that. It is a question of parties making such requests in good time. We do not foresee any crisis,” she assured.

The requirement of a certified membership list was one of the contested clauses in the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that sailed through amid brawl by MPs.

ODM, on March 14, wrote to Inspector General of Police Hilary Mutyambai, seeking security during the month-long exercise.

“The ODM National Elections Board intends to conduct party primaries between March 21 and April 21. The primaries will be staggered with the exercise taking place in one or two counties at a time.

“This is to request that you provide the party with necessary security to enable the primaries to be held in a peaceful atmosphere,” said the letter by Ms Mumma.

A source at ODM intimated that the party had submitted a list to the registrar but withdrew it for further consultations and only submitted another one last week.

The board also wrote to Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha seeking to use schools as polling centres.

The pending exercise that could occasion a fallout has sent political shockwaves within Raila’s strongholds of Nyanza, Western and Coast.

The elections board has consensus, direct ticket, use of delegates and universal suffrage as its methods for party nominations.

But it is the plan to use opinion poll as a basis to issue direct tickets that has triggered anxiety among aspirants. Mr Odinga is being watched how he will handle the governorship contests in Homa Bay, Siaya, Busia, Kisii, Mombasa and Migori counties, where his allies are eyeing the party ticket.

Siaya Senator James Orengo, former Police Spokesperson Charles Owino and former Permanent Secretary Carey Orege are seeking to succeed Governor Cornel Rasanga on an ODM ticket.

Siaya Senator James Orengo. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

In Homa Bay, ODM Chairman John Mbadi and Woman Rep Gladys Wanga are expected to face off in nominations. The two are front runners in the race to succeed Governor Cyprian Awiti.

Others in the race are former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, Oyugi Magwanga – who unsuccessfully contested in 2017, Deputy Governor Hamilton Orata, County Secretary Isaiah Ogwe, businessman Jared Otieno and Kuppet Secretary General Akello Misori.

In Mombasa, Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir and Suleiman Shahbal – who recently ditched Jubilee for ODM – are set to battle it out for the ODM governorship ticket. Mr Odinga is close to the two politicians perceived to be front runners. Already, Governor Hassan Joho has endorsed Nassir for the top seat.

Similarly, a tough race is expected in Busia where former MP Paul Otuoma and Woman Rep Florence Mutua are expected to fight for the ODM governorship ticket.

Mr Otuoma ditched ODM in the run up to 2017 polls after losing out in party nominations to Governor Sospeter Ojaamong.’ He has, however, rejoined the party in readiness for the next poll.

In Kisii, Senator Sam Ongeri has ditched ODM for Democratic Action Party - Kenya (DAP-K) ahead of the nominations. Ongeri was to face off with Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati for the ticket.

In Migori, Senator Ochillo Ayacko and Woman Rep Pamela Odhiambo - both Raila allies - have declared interest to succeed Governor Okoth Obado. 

ODM deputy party leader Hassan Joho and Director of Elections Junet Mohamed represent young politicians who are strongly in support of direct nomination and consensus.

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and a number of senior officials are rooting for universal suffrage, through which ODM members would vote for their preferred candidate.