ODM Party leader Raila Odinga at a past event. [Photo/ kenyans.co.ke]
Raila Odinga's ODM Party is facing an acid test in Kwale if the latest turn of events is anything to by.From poaching of their members by the Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee Party to shambolic nominations in the just-concluded party primaries, Raila has a myriad of challenges to deal with in galvanizing his perceived political backyard.The race for the party gubernatorial ticket left many disgruntled aspirants who threatened to decamp from the party after Dr Issa Chipera was declared the winner. Lucky enough, the party's disputes tribunal nullified his win to set a rematch of the contest with his fiercest rival, Sammy Ruwa.Msambweni Parliamentary seat which was also hotly contested between the incumbent Suleiman Dori and Gombato Bongwe Ward MCA Omar Iddi Boga elicited mixed reactions after Dori was declared the winner.Boga's supporters threatened to "kill" ODM in the county if Dori's win will not be nullified.Fortunately, the party's disputes tribunal nullified the win and ordered for the repeat of the exercise.On Sunday, the party's disputes tribunal ordered ODM to withdraw the nomination certificate which was issued to Issa Juma Boy to run for the county Senator following an appeal by his main opponent Nicholas Zani.With time ticking, the party is now facing the risk of not fielding the right candidates that will fight out for various elective positions with their main rival party, Jubilee.