The 'mlolongo' voting system was first introduced in 1988 during Kanu elections. Photo: twitter.com
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Kwale branch has resorted to using the ‘mlolongo voting system’ to elect party nominees.The party primaries are scheduled for April 11 in the County.Mlolongo voting system means the voters queue behind the image or portrait of their favourite candidate.The voting method was first introduced in 1988 during Kanu elections.The decision was arrived at after a delegation of aspirants, ODM officials and MPs in Kwale met party executive director Oduor Ong’wen at the Red Cross center in Ukunda on Monday."During the primaries there were no enough ballot papers where we resorted to using exercise books and at the end it was a sham. Logistically it will be hard to do secret ballot as those who will provide vehicles to ferry the results you know them and they might manipulate," Nicholas Zani, party vice chairperson said.Zani said the secret ballot system might encourage rigging as was witnessed in the 2013 party primaries.