ODM refunds millions of shillings to aspirants

ODM leader Raila Odinga with political leaders allied to Azimio La Umoja at Shinyalu market, Kakamega County, March 27, 2022. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Raila Odinga-led ODM has resorted to refund aspirants their nomination fees, running into millions of shillings, in areas where it will issue direct tickets.

The outfit has since written “regret letters” to aspirants who applied to run on its ticket but were knocked out after results of opinion polls, conducted by the party, showed they were not “popular among the electorate”.

The Standard yesterday learnt that top party officials were still pushing for negotiations among aspirants across Nyanza and Coast to avoid competitive primaries that have on many occasions turned acrimonious.

Areas targeted for negotiations include governor races in Homa Bay, Migori, Siaya and Mombasa.

It has further emerged that the party is planning to issue direct tickets to female MPs, holders of parliamentary seats, to push up the number of elected women.

Should this proposal be endorsed, MPs Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Lilian Gogo (Rangwe) and Eve Obara will get direct tickets to defend their seats.

So far, ODM has handed Nathif Jamah direct ticket to run for Garissa governor post. The outfit has since written to incumbent Governor Ali Korane that the party will refund his Sh500,000 nomination fees.

The party collected Sh500,000 from those who applied to run for governor on its ticket while those running for Senate and National Assembly paid Sh250,000. County assembly hopefuls paid Sh50,000. The figures were, however, halved for female, youth and people living with disabilities.

ODM National Elections Board chairperson Catherine Mumma with Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna during a past meeting. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

“I wish to inform you that the party received other applications for the same position, and upon consultations, reviews and polling, resolved that it shall not be conducting competitive nomination for the position of candidate for Governor of the County of Garissa,” states the letter by ODM National Elections Board chairperson Catherine Mumma.

“I regret to inform you that the party has resolved to issue a direct nomination to another applicant to be its candidate …. the party has commenced the processing of Sh500,000 being a refund of the nominations fees that you paid in support of your application,” adds Mumma.

On Saturday, Raila issued direct tickets to MPs Tindi Mwale (Butere), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Titus Khamala (Lurambi) and Oscar Nabulindo (Matungu).

The four were elected on Amani National Congress (ANC) but now seek to defend their seats on ODM in the August 9 polls.

Yesterday, ODM deputy party leader and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya told The Standard that more direct tickets will be issued to Fernandes Baraza, who is running for Kakamega Governor and Elsie Muhanda, who is seeking to defend her Woman Rep position.

Others to be handed direct tickets by ODM are Jubilee’s Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) and Ben Shinali (Ikolomani) who will be defending their seats on the Raila-led outfit.

“The entire Kakamega is now fully behind ODM. We are today receiving Wangwe and Shinali,” said Oparanya.

He disclosed that some of the aspirants handed direct tickets polled as high as 70 per cent in opinion polls conducted by the party.

Oparanya said it would be a waste of time to conduct primaries through universal suffrage in such a scenario. “Some of them polled over 70 per cent in popularity; so why waste time with primaries in such a case? In some areas we will conduct primaries, especially for MCAs,” he said.

He said in areas where the party has issued direct tickets, all aspirants have had the advantage to see results of the opinion polls.

He disclosed that there were ongoing negotiations for various seats in ODM strongholds in an effort to avert political fallouts.

“There are ongoing negotiations in Homa Bay before we can make decisions to conduct primaries or not. Entire Luo Nyanza is fluid but there are ongoing talks,” he explained.

Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. [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.

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.

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.

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.

The party plans to hold its primaries between April 1 and April 21.

According to the schedule provided by the party, it will conduct primaries in 21 counties out of 47. This implies that the party could issue direct tickets in the remaining 16 counties or fail to field candidates all together.

The exercise will start in Nakuru and Turkana counties on April 1 followed by Narok and Kajiado on April 2 while Kilifi and Tana River will have voters pick their preferred candidates on April 4.

ODM supporters will on April 5 pick their candidates in Taita Taveta and Kwale while Mombasa have its nomination on April 6 while Kisii and Nyamira will be held on April 7.

On April 12, Vihiga and Busia will hold primaries while Kisumu will have the exercise on April 13.

Others are Siaya on April 14, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia on April 15 while Migori has been slated for April 16. Homa Bay will be on April 18, Kakamega April 19 with Nairobi closing the chapter on April 21.

In a recent interview, Mumma listed consensus, direct ticket, use of delegates – which was used to pick Raila as the presidential candidate – and the universal suffrage as methods for party nominations

Ms Mumma said the party’s opinion polls have captured popularity ratings of aspirants from other parties and they were considering approaching them with offer of a direct ticket.

“We are also fishing for good candidates, just like other parties. Where we can see our polls are showing a member of another party is way ahead, we go bring them on board without subjecting them to nominations,” she revealed.