'Men in black' disrupt ODM's past party primaries. [Photo/Jobsandcareersinkenya]
Tension continues to build in Raila Odinga’s ODM party amid widespread fears that the party’s nominations next month will not be free and fair.
There are claims among the party’s candidates that direct tickets will be dished out to individuals who owe allegiance to Raila and other influential party leaders, setting the stage for massive fallout and key defections.
Recently, ODM Executive Director Oduor Ongwen was forced to once again come out and reiterate that the primaries will be competitive, and that no aspirant will be issued with a direct ticket. Last month, Raila held a six-hour closed-door meeting with the party’s aspirants from Nyanza and personally gave the same assurance amid noticeable defections from the party in Kisii and other regions.
Among the key fears is that Raila’s relatives will be given walkovers in ODM strongholds during the nominations. In the race for Nairobi’s Kibra Constituency, current MP Ken Okoth and Raila’s former aide Eliud Owalo, who is also eyeing the seat, have already cried foul after the ODM leader’s daughter Rosemary joined the parliamentary race. Owalo said there is a plot to deny him the ODM ticket in favour of Rosemary.
Nyatike MP Edick Anyanga also recently claimed that ODM national chairman John Mbadi has preferred candidates ahead of the party primaries. He warned this amounted to obstructing Raila’s quest for the presidency.
On Tuesday this week, Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir warned of imminent violence as two rival factions continue to feud over the control of the constituency’s ODM office. He said one group has already decided who will get certificates.
In 2013, the party’s primaries were rocked by chaos as key aspirants defected to others parties over unfair nominations.