ODM will give direct nominations to special candidates in 2017 elections

It is now official. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will give direct nominations to a special category of candidates vying for various positions in the 2017 election.

Chairman John Mbadi also announced that party nominations would be held in February and March next year— four months before the General Election — through universal suffrage.

“We are fully prepared for clean and well organised party primaries. We have learnt from the past and there will no more fallouts,” Mbadi said.

He said the party would divide the country into zones to enable smooth running of the primaries as well issuance of tickets.

“Zone A will be grey areas where we have equal strength with our opponents. Here, we will scout for a candidate, give him or her a direct ticket and even fund the campaigns. In Zone B will be ODM strongholds where the candidates will fight it out in a free and fair process,” said Mbadi. He said Zone C will be areas where the party has little support. Here, candidates may also get direct tickets, according to the Suba MP.

“The plan is avoid situations where party supporters get disenfranchised when there is violence,”  he said.

He added: “ODM is the most popular political party but the main problem is chaotic nominations. We are going to undertake the elections between February and March next year to help us avoid chaos.” Speaking when he met Kabondo Kasipul ODM officials, Mbadi underscored the importance of holding the party primaries early, saying it will give them an opportunity to contain post-nomination fallouts.

The Suba MP assured party supporters of free and transparent nominations. “Previous nominations were being done a few weeks to the General Election. This time, we are going to have ample time to resolve any issues that may emerge. I assure all aspirants the nominations will be transparent,” noted Mbadi.

In previous elections, the Orange party had to contend with disgruntled aspirants who would ditch if they felt the nominations were unfair.

The situation saw the party lose a number of elective posts in various parts of the country.

But Mbadi now warns politicians from ODM strongholds who used to get tickets through the back door that it will no longer be business as usual.

No back door

“Those who used to get in through the back door must learn to follow the rules now,” said Mbadi.

“It is not going to be business as usual. We will be transparent in the issuance of certificates because we want to bring everybody on board until the elections. We want those who will win to do so fairly. There will be no favouritism.”

Another reasons for early primaries was to allow the party ample time to concentrate on the presidential campaign and to give room for appeals from aspirants  who are not satisfied with the results.

The party, said Mbadi, had received requests from some governors to be considered for direct nominations in the forthcoming primaries. Early this year, Siaya Governor Cornell Rasanga asked Mbadi to give the four Luo-Nyanza governors direct nominations owing to their busy schedules in running their counties.

The new nomination rules come at a time many politicians are already campaigning for various positions. Among those already on the campaign trail are leaders who had either abandoned politics or were toppled during the last poll. The leaders include former Cabinet minister Ochillo Ayacko, former assistant minister Prof Ayiecho Olweny, and former MPs Owino Likowa, John Pesa and Ken Nyagudi among others.

Ayacko is eyeing the Migori governor’s seat currently held by Okoth Obado who was elected on a PDP ticket. Then there is Dr Hezron Mc’Obewa who is eyeing Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma’s seat and Richard Ogendo, keen on Kisumu Central. Pesa wants to get back the Suna East seat from Junet Mohammed.

Olweny is keen on reclaiming Muhoroni, while Likowa’s eye is trained on the Migori Senate seat held by Wilfred Machage. Nyagudi is hoping to make make a big return to Kisumu Central.

Homa Bay County Assembly Speaker Samuel Ochillo, who is contesting the Kasipul parliamentary seat, said early primaries will help ODM deal with post-nomination issues. “I am a victim of a flawed ODM nomination process in 2007 and 2013,” said Ochillo

“If ODM has enough machinery to undertake the nominations early, let it do it,” said Ochillo.

ODM’s loss of the Migori gubernatorial seat and the parliamentary seats of  Kisumu Town West, Awendo and Muhoroni have been attributed to to flawed nominations.