- Five gubernatorial aspirants disagreed during the meeting convened by the NEB in Kilifi.
- Kazungu confirmed that there were three aspirants who were ready to sit and talk but the other two have not yet confirmed.
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Orange Democratic Movement governor aspirants in Kilifi county are yet to reach consensus.
This means that they may be subjected to fiery party nominations on Monday.
Efforts by the ODM National Elections Board to convince them to agree are yet to bear fruits.
Kilifi has been an ODM stronghold for many years but is currently facing a strong opposition from Pamoja African Alliance Party and UDA.
Five gubernatorial aspirants disagreed during the meeting convened by the NEB in Kilifi.
They include former Devolution CAS Gideon Mung’aro, Kilifi Speaker Jimmy Kahindi, former Kenyan Envoy to Tanzania Dan Kazungu, Deputy Governor Gideon Saburi, and former Assistant Minister Francis Baya.
Mun’garo, Kahindi, Kazungu and Saburi were present during the meeting presided by Richard Tairo, a commissioner from the ODM NEB on Tuesday.
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Out of the four candidates three seemed ready for the consensus while Kahindi opposed and maintained that they have to let the people decide.
It is not clear whether Baya supports consensus or he was ready for nominations.
Kahindi said they have resolved to go for nominations as members of ODM but emphasised on the need for unity for the benefit of the party.
He said failing to reach consensus should not be perceived as a political war but a win for democracy.es.
“Whoever feels he is fully prepared to go for the primaries should be allowed and if there will be consensus people will be told, currently we are waiting for April 4, to go for the nominations,” he said.
Kazungu said he was in support of the proposal by NEB to ensure there is consensus among aspirants to ease the process of getting candidates.
He said currently talks are going on and they have up to Friday this week to reach an agreement before considering nominations next week.
“My colleagues have asked if we could talk and I am ready for talks because I think consensus is more important than opinion polls or other ways,” he said.
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Kazungu confirmed that there were three aspirants who were ready to sit and talk but the other two have not yet confirmed.
Mung’aro said every aspirant should prepare for the nomination but he also welcomed talks for consensus.
“Talks are going on, so when we have the white smoke we will speak,”Mung'aro said.
“It is important for people to talk you cannot oppose talks even during war, the countries create time to talk so as to reduce conflicts."
Saburi said as Kilifi leaders have begun talks to get a candidate who will transform the county.
He said they are currently weighing on who is the stronger candidate to be the flag bearer.
“If we reach an agreement early, we shall relieve the party the trouble of going for nominations, so we are in the race but still trying to figure who is best fit to be the flag bearer,” he said.
Tairo said the party was emphasising on consensus to prevent fall outs that emerge after primaries.
“If consensus fails then we will have to go to the ballot, our prayers is that whoever wins should be supported by the others and everyone remains in the party,” he said.
Tairo hailed Kaloleni, Kaya Fungo, Kambe Ribe, Ganda and Jaribuni candidates for reaching consensus.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
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