The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Friday issued a direct ticket to former Rongo Member of Parliament Ochilo Ayacko for the forthcoming Migori senatorial race.
Though convenient for the party which cited both financial and time constrains, the move could prove more disadvantageous to the party.
The method will unfairly lock a good number of candidates out of the party ticket, and could lead to rebellion.
Though the party has said that the remaining 7 candidates have backed the move, its likely that some could soon move forward to vie on independent tickets anyway.
This will be a demonstration of the party’s inability to put its house in order, and could split the vote as a separate candidate cruises through to steal the victory.
Also, it is possible that the party officials might have arrived at Ayacko as a result of presumed popularity, while the case might be different on the ground.
He could end up losing to a stronger candidate who would have been the party flag bearer had voters been allowed to decide.
Voters could as well rebel for being denied the chance to personally choose their candidate through the nomination process and could retaliate by defying the party for a separate candidate.
The seat was left vacant after the demise of former holder Ben Oluoch who succumbed to cancer last month, with the by-election set for October 8.
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