ODM fights back as nominations fallout escalates

Opposition party Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was last evening fighting an emerging storm within its ranks after handing out direct tickets to dozens of aspirants who will now be spared the stress and rigours of the party nominations slated for April.

The developments took place even as  the party released a schedule for its primaries set to start on Friday. Decision by the party led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to issue direct tickets has caused an outcry with those who have been overlooked, blaming senior officials for frustrating them in favour of their favourite aspirants.

ODM has already handed direct tickets to Nathif Jama, the former Garissa governor who is seeking to recapture the seat, governor aspirants Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega) and Hamadi Boga (Kwale); MPs Tindi Mwale (Butere), Titus Khamala (Lurambi), Peter Nabulindo (Matungu), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo) and Sylvanus Anami (Shinyalu).

All of them except Boga, were handed the tickets at the weekend by Raila during his tour of the Western region. The move immediately sparked an uproar as their opponents rushed out of the party in anger, claiming mistreatment and lack of democracy in the outfit.   

Yesterday, the party defended itself against claims of unfairness, saying it had been done according to the law and the party’s constitution.  

Chairperson of  ODM National Elections Board (NEB) Catherine Mumma said the law allowed the party a number of options to pick nominees including through direct nominations. She said they will employ other means including universal suffrage although she ruled out the use of delegates to pick candidates. 

She dismissed claims that the party was preparing hundreds of tickets to be dished out before the nominations, claiming the reports were “fake news”. She, however,  acknowledged the possibility of issuing more direct nominations if candidates met the lawful criteria established by the outfit.

She said they were pursuing different methods including consensus among aspirants to minimise animosity and costly friendly fire normally associated with intense primaries.

“We have encouraged consensus among aspirants to reduce adversity amongst themselves. They have talked and agreed on one candidate themselves or in the presence of a mediator. For those who have agreed we have issued the direct ticket to the one picked,” said Mumma.

She defended the handing out of tickets to MPs from Western region, saying they were popular aspirants from other parties who deserved the honour.

Single candidate

“We also give direct nominations to single candidates in an area. Popular aspirants who have moved from the other parties have also been given tickets,” she said.

The decision to welcome some politicians to the party with direct tickets has not gone down well with competitors who questioned the decision to throw them under the bus in favour of the new entrants.

Some have abandoned the party altogether, including Habil Nanjendo who defected from ODM to Amani National Congress.  Nanjendo, popularly known as Korokoro, the Butere constituency aspirant, defected after Raila gave a direct ticket to Mwale.

Korokoro, a former political advisor of Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, claimed betrayal for the ODM decision.

ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, who welcomed him, said Raila was “a master of deceit”.

“Raila Odinga is the master of conmanship politics. He lied to some people to defect from their parties with a promise of fair nominations. After zoning them into his Azimio project, he has gone ahead to hand direct tickets to some while ignoring his party stalwarts,” said Mudavadi.

The issuing of direct tickets continued to cause more fallouts as professionals from Homa Bay yesterday demanded that members should be left to decide who to lead them in a free and fair exercise.

Speaking in Nairobi, members of the Homa Bay Professionals Association said the attempt to give particular candidates direct tickets without consultation was unacceptable. They claimed such a move was a recipe for voter apathy in the Nyanza region. “ODM has made one of the worst decisions ever. Raila Odinga fought for democracy and we are shocked that he is finding it hard to implement what he fought for. As professionals we are telling him to rescind the decision as early as today, failure to which Nyanza region will not come out in large numbers as it has always done for him,” said Bryon Nyakoe, a member of the caucus.

Serious competitor

Nyakoe warned that the move, if not reversed, might force them to the streets.  

“It is high time Raila Odinga understood that we are facing a very serious competitor who is the Deputy President. If he is unable to deal with small issues like party primaries, why should he be entrusted with heavy duties like becoming the Commander-in-Chief?” he asked.

The group said the move will affect some of the civil servants who resigned to run for political seats.

“What will the party tell some individuals who resigned from their lucrative jobs only to be shortchanged at the final stage. Refunding them will not heal anything, let us have a simple but fair nomination process,” said Samuel Ayoma.

They spoke as claims intensified that one of the governor candidates, Gladys Wanga, the county’s Woman Rep, was being lined up for a direct ticket in a field that has also attracted bigwigs including former Nairobi county boss Evans Kidero and former MP Oyugi Magwanga.  

ODM chairman John Mbadi, who was also in the race, has since bolted out, saying he will focus on campaigning for Raila nationally.

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