NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga. [Photo/ Waza News]
Just like in 2013, the chaotic nominations of the ODM party are likely to ruin Raila Odinga’s chances of winning the presidency in the August general election.Election officials and candidates who lost in the primaries have revealed how cartels with connections in the ODM headquarters, Orange House, sold out nomination certificates to the highest bidders. While making as much as Sh1 million per document sold, the cartels, who used well-known political figures in the party, issued fake certificates to election losers. The situation created confusion in many of Raila Odinga’s strongholds, leading many aspirants to challenge the election outcomes. In Luo Nyanza, where ODM is very popular, winning the party’s certificate gives a candidate an edge during the national election. That is why many aspirants, sensing defeat, were willing to bribe corrupt ODM officials with huge sums of money. The sad reality is, with blessings from Orange House, election losers in the primaries were handed the certificates in many ODM strongholds. NASA presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga, also the party leader, endorsed those ‘losers’ by making them team leaders of his campaign to unseat President Uhuru Kenyatta. He seems to have forgotten that the main reason why millions of voters in areas where he enjoys popularity, such as Western Kenya, Nyanza and Coast during the 2013 general election, stayed away from participating in the polls was because many felt that there was no democracy in ODM and that the party imposed their preferred individuals to be leaders at the local level.Only a fool does the same thing again and again, and expect different results, the saying goes. In Kisumu, Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o lost the gubernatorial contest against the popular Jack Ranguma, but was nevertheless given the party’s nomination certificate because of his huge influence in the party and closeness to party leader Raila Odinga. The same was witnessed in Siaya, Homa Bay, Busia, Migori, Kitui and many other places. Those candidates who are popular and won the primaries in those areas complained of how the party pushes down the throats of voters unpopular aspirants. They have secured their place in the ballot as independent candidates. It is voters in Raila’s strongholds, where primaries were shambolic, that will punish the NASA flag bearer by not showing up to vote for him. Some have openly said they will support Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta.