• The party says the move is on a reciprocal basis after Jubilee announced it would not field a candidate in the Msambweni by-election.
• Secretary general Edwin Sifuna says the party's National Executive Council Committee made the resolution following a two-day retreat in Machakos county.
Image: LAMECK BARAZA
ODM will not field candidates in the Lake view and Kahawa Wendani wards by-election.
In a statement on Saturday, the party said the move was on a reciprocal basis after Jubilee announced it would not field a candidate in the Msambweni by-election.
Secretary general Edwin Sifuna said the party's National Executive Council Committee made the resolution following a two-day retreat in Machakos county.
He said its National Elections Board had received various applications from interested candidates for the party ticket in all the five by-elections scheduled for December 15.
"The board is scheduled to hold primaries in Msambweni and in Kisumu North ward where we have more than one applicant," Sifuna said.
He said a direct ticket will be issued to the only applicant in Wundanyi/Mbale ward in Taita Taveta in due course.
"As a party, we wish to thank Jubilee Party leader President Uhuru Kenyatta for the decision not to field a candidate in Msambweni in the spirit of the handshake. In the same spirit, the party's NEC has resolved that ODM will not be fielding candidates in Lake View Ward in Nakuru County and Kahawa Wendani Ward in Kiambu both of which were held by Jubilee," Sifuna said.
Lakeview MCA Karanja Mburu in April died in a road accident at Gilgil viewpoint along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway, while his Kahawa Wendani counterpart Cyrus Omondi was found dead in a hotel in India after suffering a heart attack.
Earlier in the week, Jubilee announced it will not field a candidate in Msambweni.
The seat was left vacant following the death of ODM's Suleiman Dori.
Jubilee said with its recent cooperation with ODM, it saw it fit not to field a candidate.
It also said the country faces serious issues following Chief Justice David Maraga's call for the dissolution of Parliament for failing to legislate laws to implement the gender rule.
"The country has very serious constitutional matters to deal with that will require sobriety and reaching across the political divides in order to navigate our beloved country across some of these challenges," Tuju said.
He further added, "This announcement has been made in good time so that any aspirant who has interest in a Jubilee ticket still has other pathways to running for the seat."
But Deputy President later said he wanted Jubilee to field a candidate.
Ruto said Jubilee is a national party that believes in the unity of the country.
This, he said, should be displayed by giving every Kenyan an opportunity to express themselves through participation in elections which is the party's cardinal principal.
Ruto said Jubilee is a national political movement that brings on board all Kenyans.
"I had a different view on fielding a candidate in Musabweni but I came here and I have been briefed about the decision that has been made and I want to assure the party membership that we stand by it," he said.
Edited by EKibii