ODM clarifies having preferred candidate ahead of Kasipul nominations
By Joel Masibo, September 23, 2025The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has confirmed that it has not fronted a preferred candidate in the Wednesday, September 24, 2025, Kasipul Constituency party nominations.
The ODM Kasipul Branch Chairperson, Evance Ndege, has instead assured aspirants that the exercise will be free and fair. Leaders and those seeking the ODM ticket in the Kasipul parliamentary seat by-election have called for peace ahead of the democratic exercise.
”Nobody in Kasipul or Homabay County is forcing the electorate to vote in Boyd Were; everyone will get their votes on Wednesday,” Ndege said.
On his part, Boy Were, an aspirant seeking the Kaipul Constituency Parliamentary seat under the ticket of ODM, urged the electorate not to consider the age factor when exercising their constitutional right at the ballot.
”I want to ask all aspirants in Kasipul Constituency, let us embrace peace, we want peaceful nominations, at the end of the day, we will have only one candidate. And let not age be a determinant in electing a leader in this country,” Boyd Were said on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
The Kasipul Constituency MP seat fell vacant after the area Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were was assassinated on April 3o, 2025, in Nairobi. He became the second Member of Parliament for Kasipul to die while in office after the late Peter Owidi, who died on November 23, 2005.
Fielding candidates in ODM strongholds
ODM’s confirmation of not having a suitable candidate in Kasipul comes when the party’s National Chairperson and Homa Bay County Governor, Gladys Wanga, has stressed the importance of the party maintaining a strong presence at the grassroots ahead of the upcoming by-elections.
Speaking on Monday, September 22, 2025, Wanga revealed that ODM will be contesting the various ward and parliamentary seats as the party seeks to cement its dominance in the country’s political landscape.
”We are facing by-elections in Magarini constituency with Harry Kombe, who is our colleague. We have by-elections in Ugunja and Kasipul, seats which were held by ODM,” she said.
“In the Tana River for the Chewani ward, we have fielded a candidate. We need to go out and campaign for our candidate. The seat was held by UDA. We also have Kisa East in Khwisero, Kakamega and in Purko ward, where we also look to bring in the seat,” Wanga added.
Meanwhile, after the nominations exercise, voters nationwide will choose leaders in various positions that were declared vacant by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in the November 27, 2025, mini-polls contest.