ODM nominations kick off amid widening cracks in NASA

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has kicked of the party primaries in Busia, Bungoma and Machakos counties, just a day after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) gazetted the names of the contestants.

ODM moved its nominations kick off date to Thursday, April 13 after the IEBC declared illegal any party primaries conducted before Wednesday, April 12.

ODM, under the leadership of Raila Odinga – who is also a National Super Alliance (NASA) co-principal, has been under pressure to conduct free, fair and transparent nominations with some members threatening to decamp should the primaries be botched.

The opposition party has also been under pressure from a section of its leaders following its decision to issue over 850 direct nominations to some of its members who are perceived to have sacrificed enough for the party or did not have challengers in their respective positions.

ODM National Elections Board (NEB) chairperson, Judith Pareno, on Wednesday assured contestants and party supporters that the nominations would be free and fair saying that this has been the case over years.

“In the last two general elections the party has participated in, we have held our internal elections and nominations in a free, open and democratic atmosphere despite the many challenges that any political outfit may face during such times,” said Ms Pareno.

The party’s elections board says it is determined to improve on where things might have gone wrong in the previous elections.

On Saturday, April 15, the ODM party will conduct its primaries in Turkana, Kakamega, Samburu and Narok Counties.

Nyamira, Taita Taveta, Kajiado, TransNzoia and Nakuru Counties will have their primaries on Tuesday, April 18 followed by Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Tana River and Lamu Counties a day after.

On Thursday, April 20, the party will conducts the nominations in Kisii before moving to Homa Bay, Migori and Vihiga Counties on Friday.

On Monday, April 24, the ODM party will conduct its primaries in Siaya, Kisumu and Uasin Gishu Counties before concluding on Tuesday with Makueni, Garissa and Nairobi Counties.

On the other hand, Wiper Democratic Movement, under the leadership of Kalonzo Musyoka, will kick off the nominations on Saturday, April 15 in Garissa, Wajir, Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia counties.

On Tuesday, April 18, Wiper will conduct nominations in Mombasa, Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Taita Taveta and Tana River Counties before moving to Machakos and Makueni on Friday, April 21.

On Sunday, April 23, the party will hold nominations in Nairobi, Kisii and Nyamira counties before concluding the exercise on Monday, April 24 in Kitui County.

The ruling Jubilee Party will hold its nominations on one day, Friday, April 21.

The move by ODM and Wiper to hold separate party primaries have thrown into disarray plans by NASA to conduct joint nominations in some areas.