- “We're ensuring all parties supporting the handshake join ODM and Jubilee in Azimio la Umoja and find a formula for a joint nominations,” Oparanya said.
- Plan meant to ensure Azimio wins majority of seats in Parliament.
The Azimio La Umoja Movement will hold joint primaries, ODM deputy leader Wycliffe Oparanya has said.
Joint primaries are part of the strategy by the Raila Odinga-led movement to ensure it wins the majority of governor, senator, MP and MCA seats during the August 9 election.
It will be Raila Odinga's fifth stab at the presidency.
Oparanya said that candidates presented by all parties under Azimio movement will be subjected to a free, fair and transparent nominations to avoid internal competition.
He spoke during an ODM rally at Lusheya market in Mumias East constituency on Saturday.
ODM has said it lost seats it should have won because of unhealthy internal competitions in coalitions. The party was in the Cord coalition with Wiper and Ford Kenya in 2013. It worked in Nasa with ANC, Ford Kenya, Wiper and Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) in 2017.
ODM is now working on a coalition with the ruling Jubilee Party after falling out with ANC, Ford Kenya and Wiper under the collapsed Nasa.
“We are working on ensuring all parties supporting the handshake join ODM and Jubilee in Azimio la Umoja and work out a formula for joint nominations,” Oparanya said.
Oparanya, who is the Kakamega governor, said their target was to ensure the coalition had numerical strength in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
Mumias East is represented by Ben Washiali who has declared he will not defend the seat after serving three terms.
He said that the movement will put in place mechanisms to avoid fallings-out party primaries.
He said that the government was a big establishment and those who lose in the primaries will be given other jobs once Raila forms the next government.
Oparanya said Azimio had gained ground in Western region after Raila declared his presidential bid and launched his campaigns.
He said that ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi's presidential bid may not have much impact because he has joined the race very late.
He said that the contest for presidency has narrowed down to Deputy President William Ruto and Raila, saying other leaders eyeing the top seat will not go anywhere.
He asked the Luhya community to rally behind Raila so they can be part of his government, adding they cannot benefit from any meaningful development in the opposition.
(Edited by V. Graham)