As jostling for party tickets starts to gain momentum in readiness for the 2017 polls, ODM aspirants in Kisumu have appealed to the party to conduct free and fair nominations.
According to a section of aspirants planning to run on ODM tickets, the party should embrace democracy in its nominations if it is to redeem its image of conducting shoddy nomination that embraces cronyism in giving out tickets.
Nominated MCA Ben Ombima said the party should not repeat what happened in 2013, an event he said had a negative impact on Raila Odinga's Presidential ambitions as the former premier succumbed to a third defeat to Uhuru Kenyatta.
"We urge ODM leadership to deliver a free and fair nomination exercise in 2017 if our party leader is to clinch the Presidency which has now eluded him three times. Let nomination certificates not be given based on friendship but rather based on how the voters decide," said Mr Ombima who is eying the Nyalenda A ward seat on an ODM ticket.
Mr Ombima said failure to embrace democracy will dent the party’s image and give a mockery to Raila who is regarded the father of democracy in Kenya.