Orange Democratic Party leadership has yet again been warned against hiking nomination fee for aspirants to various seats in 2017 polls.
This comes after all party headquarters were summoned with documents proposing fee increase but subject to National Governing Council’s decision.
The proposal by party Chairman seen by the reporter in Nyamira offices proposes Sh1 million for candidates going for the gubernatorial seat from Sh300,000 in 2013, Sh500,000 for MPs and Sh150,000 for MCAs, all indicating a substantive increase from what was paid in 2013.
Nyamira County vice chair Julius Kaka has already disagreed with the proposed fee saying it would only give the haves in the society chances to party nomination certificates and jeopardise chances of majority of party supporters who have a potential yet they come from impoverished backgrounds.
“We have received a circular but it’s only a proposal. However, the proposal is full of flaws which are unacceptable and as area vice chair, I will mobile party supporters to reject it. It gives opportunity to rich people in the society jeopardising chances for those who are able but with limited resources,” he said.
Mr Kaka also said if the proposal is passed by NEC, it would be a major undoing for ODM since a number of popular candidates would go for smaller parties hence sabotaging the Orange party’s bid to have control on parliament and county assembly’s.
“We all know how important elected members are for any party seeking to take over government. The fee is likely to scare most candidates who are popular and they are likely to seek nominations from other smaller parties costing us control in the house. We will oppose it as Nyamira delegates,” he said.
Borabu youth league leader Moseti Bwongeri said that the youths would fight to have their own favoured in nominations through reduced fee.
“We have many youths and women who want to go for the elective seats. The nomination fee must be favourable for us failure to which we will stage major protests,” he said.