- While Aspirants from the ODM agreed with the directive, those from DAP-K said they will not be part of the joint nominations
- Lugari MP Ayub Savula who is eyeing Kakamega governor seat on DAP-K ticket said that the people should be left to decide their leaders.
Image: HILTON OTENYO
ODM is pushing for joint nominations for candidates under Azimio la Umoja in Western Kenya, a move that could present a headache in the movement.
ODM believes this will help it consolidate its strength to face off with the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
This emerged after ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya announced that Azimio will field a single candidate for all elective seats and all aspirants under the movement will be subjected to consensus.
“All aspirants for various seats will meet here on Monday to decide who takes what. A small committee will be formed to assist in the consensus building. We don’t want to fight amongst ourselves,” Oparanya said.
“The chairman of the committee will be a neutral to ensure fairness in the process,” he added.
While aspirants from ODM agreed with the directive, those from DAP-K said they will not be part of the joint nominations on suspicion that the Orange party could be plotting to revive itself in the region where its fortunes have dwindled. This signals an impending debacle during the primaries.
Lugari MP Ayub Savula who is eyeing Kakamega governor seat on DAP-K ticket said people should be left to decide their leaders.
Savula is DAP-K deputy leader.
“We are supporting Raila at the top but we’ll field candidates for all seats. If ODM don't agreed to that let them go on their own,” he said.
“The only common denominator is Raila. Parties shall operate as we did under NASA,” Savula said.
Butere MP Tindi Mwale said he was assured of a direct ticket by DAP-K leadership.
“I will not take part in joint nominations unless it is under DAP-K. I would rather defend my seat as an independent candidate if we can’t agree,” he said.
Mwale said he had been promised a direct ticket by Raila to join ODM but his constituents advised him to stick to DAP-K.
Kakamega deputy governor prof Philip Kutima, Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito and Ketraco boss Fernandez Barasa who are angling to succeed Oparanya said they will consult amongst themselves to support one of them for the ODM ticket.
Barasa said they had agreed that Kakamega will present one governor candidate.
ODM seems to have settled on former Rift valley regional commissioner George Natembeya for Trans-Nzoia governor seat and Wilber Ottichilo for Vihiga.
Kakamega woman MP Elsie Muhanda supports the joint nomination route.
The leaders spoke during a meeting in Western at Golf Hotel on Monday.
The meeting brought together party leaders drawn from all the 33 constituencies in the former Western province.
The four Western governors Oparanya (Kakamega), Ottichilo (Vihiga), Wycliffe Wangamati (Bungoma) and Busia’s Sospeter Ojaamong’, Cotu boss Francis Atwoli and CS Eugene Wamalwa were present.
Others in attendance were MPs Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Caleb Amisi (Saboti), Godfrey Osotsi (nominated), Oku Kaunya (Teso North), Wilberforce Mudenyo (Funyula), Geoffrey Omuse (Teso South), Chris Omulele (Luanda), George Aladwa (Makadara), Dr Eseli Simiyu, George Odanga (Matayos), Titus Khamala (Lurambi), Oscar Nabulindo (Matungu), Christopher Aseka (Khwisero), Raphael Wanjala (Budalangi) and Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani) and nominated Senator Naomi Shiyonga.
On January 11, Oparanya ruled out direct tickets for aspirants seeking elective seats in ODM. He said defectors will be subjected to nominations like any other party members.
He said the revised party nomination rules approved by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission allows the party to use delegates, party members, consensus or direct nomination of candidates at all levels.