• Raila to lead the Central Management Committee in a meeting to make a final verdict on the mode of nomination.
• Intense lobbying on top gear as the party races against IEBC timeliness.
ODM leader Raila Odinga will tomorrow chair a crucial meeting with the party's top decision making organ to decide on the mode of nomination for the Kibra by-election.
The Central Management Committee will hold crunch talks over the planned primaries on Saturday, amid reports the meeting has been convened to endorse consensus for the nomination.
The Star understands there is intense behind-the-scenes lobbying from the party's leadership to have the 11 candidates cleared by the Judy Pareno-led National Elections Board build consensus prior to the primary.
The party hierarchy is said to be cautious on using the universal suffrage mode of nomination, fearing rival forces might infiltrate to influence the exercise.
Yesterday, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna confirmed tomorrow's talks but insisted it would be a routine meeting to discuss internal party matters.
“We hold meetings all the time. Even now, I am walking out of another meeting. There are serious party matters involving the secretariat and other by-elections that need our attention. It is not just Kibra,” Sifuna said.
The nomination was initially planned for August 31 but was pushed forward to September 7 due to lack of security.
The Star has established that the party's National Executive Committee entrusted a section of its members to reach out to the 11 candidates to explore the possibility of consensus.
The team will tomorrow brief the CMC of its progress, with a proposal for the party to abandon universal suffrage top on the agenda.
“About three members were tasked to speak directly to the candidates and brief them on the need for consensus. We can't say with certainty at this moment that there is a decision to drop universal suffrage. A decision will be made on Thursday,” a senior ODM official aware of the intrigues told the Star.
The MPs yesterday met some of the aspirants at a Nairobi Hotel to prevail upon them to negotiate and agree on one candidate.
The eleven candidates are Awino Christone Odhiambo, Orero Peter Ochieng’Sine, Tony Ogola Sira, Ojijo Reuben William, Ayako Oguwa, Stephen Okello Okoth, Bernard Otieno Obayi and Obaricks Eric Ochieng.
Others are Owino Brian Shem, Millar John Otieno, Musungu Benson and Owade Lumumba Patrick.
Political parties have until Sunday to conduct their nominations for the November 7 Kibra by-election following the death of former area MP Ken Okoth.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will receive nomination certificates from candidates cleared by political parties on September 9 and 10.
Smarting from twin loses in Ugenya and Embakasi South by-elections, ODM is keen to get its nominations right to forestall any falling out that might play to the advantage of ODM's main rivals in the Kibra parliamentary race.
The former Prime Minister had declared the party would embrace universal suffrage to pick a popular candidate to fly the ODM flag in Kibra and ruled out a direct ticket.
The ODM constitution provides that the party can pick its candidate through universal suffrage, direct nomination and consensus.
The ruling Jubilee party has already settled on football sensation, MacDonald Mariga as its flagbearer for the duel while Musalia Mudavadi's ANC outfit has handed the ticket to former Raila political strategist Eliud Owalo.
Ford Kenya Party leader and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula on Sunday unveiled Khamisi Butichi to contest for the seat.