- Initially, the party was to start dishing direct tickets on Monday but the process was put on hold.
- To avoid the cut-throat competition that always comes with contested primaries, the board is also engaging aspirants to embrace consensus among candidates.
Image: COURTESY
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM party will next week start issuing direct party tickets to popular aspirants, a move that will shatter dreams of hundreds of aspirants.
ODM said it has finalised scientific opinion polls across the country and will issue certificates to aspirants with a wide lead.
However, where there are no clear favourites, the party will hold primaries.
Also to be issued with direct tickets are single applicants.
Initially, the party was to start dishing direct tickets on Monday but the process was put on hold after ODM National Elections Board extended the nomination deadline to March 16.
The board chairperson Catherine Mumma on Wednesday told the Star they have finalised conducting the opinion poll and will from next week embark on issuing the tickets to popular aspirants.
“Our methods for nominations are four and universal suffrage is the last resort. My team is shifting through because it is the last day," Mumma said.
"There might be a single person in a constituency so there is no need for primary in that constituency.”
The board is currently studying the opinion polls figures and signing the certificates guided by how the aspirants scored.
“Opinion poll is already done and direct ticket will be influenced by the opinion polls. If it shows an aspirant is in clear lead then it will be a waste of money to take them to primaries,” Mumma said on phone.
According to Mumma, the board is currently discussing the poll margin to warrant issuance of direct ticket, insisting the gap must be able to convince her team that whoever is exempted from the primaries will deliver the seats.
“We are discussing on what is the margin that will allow us to advantage anybody,” she said.
“If it happens that one is at 43 per cent and the other 41 per cent then either of them can actually win the seat and, in that case, we take them to the primaries.”
However, a high ranking member in the Orange party told the Star that the party will give direct tickets to aspirants with more than 10 per cent lead above the closest competitor.
Direct tickets are issued to aspirants to participate in an election without subjecting them to primaries.
This would mean that aspirants who have already paid for the nomination will be locked from participating in a contest as the party moves to save on both time and resources.
ODM aspirants seeking gubernatorial seats were paying Sh500,000 to the party while deputy governors, senators and Members of National Assembly were each parting with Sh250,000 as nomination charges.
Those eyeing Woman Representative post paid Sh125,000 to Chungwa House while MCA aspirants paid Sh50,000 and Sh25,000 for youths, women and People With Disabilities.
To avoid the cut-throat competition that always comes with contested primaries, the board is also engaging aspirants to embrace consensus among candidates.
This is to ensure they agree on one of them to fly the party’s flag.
The party will also carry staggered primaries where the poll numbers are close, beginning Monday next week.
The process will go up to April 22, which is the last day for conducting nominations according to Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission timelines.
The primaries will take place in utmost two counties in a day.
Already the board has written to Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha to authorise schools to permit it to access some public schools gazetted as polling stations.
The board has also written to Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai to provide security for the month-long exercise.
ODM nominations have been in the past marred by chaos and violence, something the party is keen to correct this time round.
Mumma, while confirming the primaries will start next week, was however noncommittal on the exact day, saying the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu is yet provide her with certified register of ODM members.
“I have also applied to ORPP for the certified register, but they have not responded,” she said.
“Once we are done I will release the schedule for the primaries.”
(edited by Amol Awuor)