Azimio chief Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto are facing a defining moment as their parties begin primaries next week.
ODM staggered nominations for aspirants between April 1-21 while Ruto's UDA will start on April 14.
The crucial calendar will put Ruto and Raila in a major conundrum as their parties hope to forestall chaos and stymie any backlash during and after primaries.
The parties are racing against time to ensure they comply with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission timelines.
Under the IEBC rules, parties must finish primaries by April 22.
The same timelines, gazetted this month, also give aspirants a 10-day window, after primaries, to resign and contest, if they so choose, as independents.
With the 10-day window both Ruto and Raila must conduct a free and fair exercise or face an exodus that might destabilise their plans.
Both chiefs have attracted hundreds of aspirants especially in their strongholds, a sign competition will be particularly stiff.
On Friday, UDA's National Elections Board chairman Anthony Mwaura moved to allay any fears that the party will hand out direct tickets to choice candidates.
The party, he announced, will subject all aspirants to a competitive process save for seats where only one candidate steps forth or in the event aspirants enter into a deal.
“We are encouraging consensus, we are having engagements in a number of areas. No direct ticket; as long as there is more than one candidate we shall have a nomination,” he said.
UDA will be conducting nominations for the first time since it rebranded from PDR and named Ruto as its leader.
Ruto has been brokering deals and building consensus among aspirants across some counties including Narok, Tharaka Nithi and Nyeri.
Early this week, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale dropped out of the gubernatorial race in favour of Cleophas Malala.
Khalwale, who was to contest the top seat on UDA ticket, will now vie for the Senate seat.
"The board is now pleased to announce that it will conduct nominations across the country on April 14, 2022," Mwaura said.
Nominations are always a highly contested matter in political parties and often result into mass walkouts in instances where aspirants feel they are bungled to favour certain individuals.
Raila's party has previously been accused of unfair nominations and in recent months the party has announced a raft of measures to address the nomination headache.
There is disquiet in the ODM over party-sponsored opinion polls amid reports that the NEB might rely on the results to chose candidates.
At least two separate polls have been sanctioned by the party in the past two months with some aspirants protesting the surveys are not fair.
Raila's party, perennially dogged by the chaos from 2013 and the 2017 primaries mayhem, has struggled to shed off the bias tag associated with its nominations.
In 2013 and 2017, violence marred ODM primaries resulting in deaths and injuries.
In some areas, primaries had to be cancelled and direct tickets handed out as violence rocked nominations.
There were claims of aspirants obtaining tickets fraudulently through bribery.
Ruto and Raila are having a headache in at least 10 counties where they enjoy massive support and where getting the party’s ticket is as good as being elected.
The DP’s turf includes Mt Kenya, Rift Valley, parts of the Coast, and parts of Western, while ODM holds sway in Nairobi, Western, Nyanza, pastoral areas of Maasai, Turkana, Pokot, Samburu, Northeastern Kenya and the Coast.
UDA ruled out zoning of the regions, saying the party will battle the seats with its Kenya Kwanza affiliates across the country.
"Aspirants are encouraged to continue preparing and popularising their bid under the UDA in preparations for the party nominations," the elections boss said.
According to the elections board, over 6000 aspirants have applied to contest on the party's ticket.
Raila’s party, which is keen to avert any falling out, has staggered its primaries opting to end with its stronghold where the Orange ticket is fiercely sought for.
“Further to the foregoing, the NEB pursuant to rule 25(3)(c)(ii) of the Party Primaries and Nomination Rules, 2021, hereby notifies all aspirants who have applied to vie for the different electoral seats on the party ticket that the party primary elections through the method of universal suffrage of registered Party members,” NEB chairperson Catherine Mumma said in a statement.
Mumma said the party is in the process of vetting applicants after which the party will make public the list of qualified aspirants.
There is no push and pull. Jubilee and ODM are friends.We are in Azimio's bigger house where there are many rooms including ODM, Narc Kenya and Jubilee.
ODM will be starting the exercise in Nakuru and Turkana on April 1, followed by Narok and Kajiado the following day.
The NEB will then move to Kilifi and Tana River (April 4), Taita Taveta and Kwale (April 5), Mombasa (April 6), Kisii and Nyamira (April 7), Vihiga and Busia (April 12).
Kisumu, where incumbent Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o will face off with former East African Community CAS Ken Obura, will have their nominations April 13 followed Siaya the next day.
In Siaya, James Orengo will be battling it out with former police spokesman Charles Owino, a race where the winner wields an advantage to succeed Governor Cornel Rasanga.
According to NEB schedule, the exercise will be held in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia (April 15), Migori (April 16), Homa Bay (April 18) and Kakamega (April 19).
In Migori, it will be a hot contest between Senator Ochilo Ayacko and Woman Representative Pamela Odhiambo. Whoever wins the Orange ticket will face former Cabinet Minister Dalmas Otieno who has already secured the Jubilee ticket.
Another county that is giving Raila sleepless nights is Mombasa, where the contest will be between two of his lieutenants, businessman Suleiman Shahbal and Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir.
On Thursday, Raila downplayed threats of division in Azimio saying the coalition will remain intact even after the nominations.
"There is no push and pull. Jubilee and ODM are friends.We are in Azimio's bigger house where there are many rooms including ODM, Narc Kenya and Jubilee. We are together, our ambition is to form the next government and help our people," he said.
There have been fears that some ODM aspirants could be forced to step down for other Azimio parties in some regions.
Speaking during a rally in Busia, Raila avoided the stormy nominations headache and instead drummed up for his Azimio, saying it will ensure all Kenyans have equal opportunities to better their lives.
He also reiterated his commitment to roll out the Sh6000 monthly stipend to vulnerable households, free access to education up to university and free medical cover under Babacare.
In Busia, both Woman Representative Florence Mutua and former Cabinet Minister Paul Otuoma who are seeking to succeed Governor Sospeter Ojaamong called for free and fair nominations in ODM.
“I want to sit down with them (Otuoma and Mutua) and I want to ask you that leave the nomination to us and we will deliver all seats in Busia to ODM and Azimio,” Ojaamong said.
On Saturday, Raila will take the Azimio rally to Sabatia, Shianda, Khwisero, Matungu and end the day with a rally in Mumias town.
WATCH: The latest videos from the Star
