ODM hands direct nomination to 850 candidates

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has been the first political party to issue nomination certificates to aspirants ahead of the August 8 General Election.

Party leader Raila Odinga presided over the event at the Bomas of Kenya that saw more than 850 candidates handed direct nomination tickets.

The nominations tickets were handed to aspirants who were unopposed by the closure of the deadline to return nomination papers.

Among the beneficiaries of the early nomination tickets include governors; Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Josephat Nanok (Turkana), Amason Kingi (Kilifi), Evans Kidero (Nairobi), Joseph Nkedianye (Kajiado), James Ongwae (Kisii)

The party sanctioned new entrants to try luck in unseating incumbent governors.

Emuhaya MP Wilbur Otichillo was given the ticket to unseat Governor Moses Akaranga who will be defending his post on a Progressive party of Kenya ticket while former Kanduyi MP Alfred Kang’ati will be seeking to send home Jubilee’s Kenneth Lusaka.

Kathee Gwa Kathee got the party’s goodwill to run against Governor Samwel Ragwa in Tharaka Nithi county while Joseph Tiampati Ole Musun will try his guns on vocal Jubilee governor – Samuel Ole Tunai – in Narok County.

Homa Bay County women representative Gladys Wanga was also sanctioned to defend her seat on ODM ticket.

Senators Stewart Mwadzayo (Kilifi) and Amos Wako (Busia) led a list of 17 aspirants to seeking electorates’ mandate to represent them in the senate.

Former Kenyan envoy to the UN Habitats Sam Ong’eri, who ditched the ruling Jubilee Party for the opposition party, got nod to run for Kisii County senatorial seat.

The seat is current held by Chris Obure who changed camps from ODM to Jubilee Party aiming to use the ruling party ticket to unseat Governor James Ongwae.

A big number of aspirants who got the nominations today are seeking the parliamentary seat. They included; Abdulswamad Nassir (Mvita), Abdikadir Aden (Balambala), Moitalel Ole Kenta (Narok North), Elijah Memusi Kanchory (Kajiado Central), Tim Wanyonyi (Westlands) among others.

Party leader Raila Odinga reiterated to the candidates that their prime agenda is to snatch power from the Jubilee Government.

“What we must all focus on is to remove Jubilee out of power and put Kenya back on its track,” said Raila.

He warned aspirants handed the party tickets against engaging in violent campaigns saying culprits will face automatic disqualification.

Raila slammed the Jubilee Administration for putting up with mega corruption scandals and at the same time appealing for food aid from abroad amid the prevailing drought.