The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has announced dates for its nationwide grassroots elections.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Communications Philip Etale, ODM revealed that the exercise will commence on Monday, April 7, 2025, and will be conducted via consensus or show of hands across all 47 counties.

The exercise is a continuation of the elections held on November 17, 2024, which saw party members elect officials at the polling unit level. The Monday election will be conducted at the cub-branch level which is the Ward.

According to the party, only delegates elected at the polling unit level will be eligible to participate in the elections for the ward level stage. The elected delegates at the ward level will then proceed to the branch level (constituency) whose election will be held on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

The chairperson of the National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) Emily Awita has further revealed that preparations are in top gear for the exercise.

“We are very ready for the exercise. It is all systems go and we expect the exercise to run smoothly,” Awita said.

“We have appointed and posted Returning Officers to all the 290 constituencies as well as Presiding Officers to all the Wards to ensure the smooth running of the exercise.”

The County Election Committees (CEC) will coordinate the exercise in all 47 counties.

The announcement comes a day after Deputy Party Leader and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi on Monday, March 31, 2025, held a consultative meeting with the party officials from all the branches of Vihiga County.

The Chungwa outfit revealed that the meeting was part of preparations for the ward and branch elections.

The grassroots polls will allow ODM to prepare for a major shake-up of party leadership trickling up to the mainstream positions.

The mainstream positions include chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, deputy secretary, treasurer, deputy treasurer, organizing secretary, and deputy organizing secretary.

There are also the positions of secretary for women, secretary for youth, secretary for persons with disabilities, and special interest group representative.

ODM through a post on Friday, March 21, 2025, announced opening the application process for individual delegates elected at the polling unit level and seeking the ward-level positions.

How to apply

Eligible delegates were to submit their applications for sub-branch (ward) positions through the ODM Party app using the official link.