ODM opens applications for all elective seats ahead of 2027 polls
In January, Oburu Oginga declared that he would automatically become ODM’s presidential flag bearer.
by JULIUS OTIENO
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ODM leader Oburu Oginga/FILE
ODM has started its preparations for the 2027 General
Election by inviting aspirants seeking the party’s tickets for all elective
positions to submit their applications.
In a notice issued by the party’s National Elections
Coordinating Committee, ODM said interested candidates can apply for positions
including President, Governor, Senator, Woman Representative, Member of the
National Assembly and Member of County Assembly.
NECC chairperson Emily Awita said the exercise is being
conducted in line with the party constitution and nomination rules.
“Pursuant to Article 6(1) of the ODM Constitution, as read
together with Rule 7(1) and Part VIII of the Party Elections and Nomination
Rules, the National Elections Coordinating Committee hereby invites
applications from interested members seeking party tickets for elective
positions,” Awita announced.
The applicants are required to submit their applications
through the party’s online portal by June 30, 2026.
The party further urged aspirants to remain engaged with the
NECC throughout the process to ensure transparency and credibility in the
nominations.
The announcement comes at a politically sensitive moment as
ODM is expected to begin pre-election coalition discussions with President
William Ruto’s UDA.
ODM has widely been viewed as likely to support President
Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027 under the broad-based political arrangement that
emerged after the party entered into cooperation talks with the Kenya Kwanza
administration.
However, the decision to invite applications for all seats,
including the presidency, could reignite debate within the party over whether
ODM should field its presidential candidate or back President Ruto.
A breakaway ODM faction operating under the banner Linda
Mwananchi has already demanded that the party abandons any plans to support
Ruto and instead front its own presidential candidate.
In January, Oburu Oginga declared he would automatically
become ODM’s presidential flagbearer should the party decide to contest the
presidency independently.
Oburu said ODM would remain in the broad-based arrangement
with the Kenya Kwanza government until 2027, in line with an agreement reached
by his brother Raila Odinga.
Raila has been ODM’s presidential candidate in every General
Election since the disputed 2007 polls.
Speaking earlier this year, Oburu said 2026 would be
decisive for the party as it charts its political direction ahead of the next
election.
“2026 is a crucial year for our party because things must be
worked out before 2027. Before the end of 2026, we shall have clearly known and
made all necessary arrangements going into 2027,” he said.
He added that ODM would determine before the end of the year
whether it would field its own presidential candidate or join a coalition with
other political parties.
“Before the end of the year, our party will have known
whether we are going it alone or entering into a coalition with other parties,
and we shall by then know whom we are going with,” he said.
According to Oburu, the ODM constitution designates the
party leader as the automatic presidential candidate if the party opts to
contest the election independently.
“If we are going it alone, I want to make it clear that our
constitution already has the presidential candidate for our party, and it is
the party leader,” he said.
He warned that any other individuals preparing to seek ODM’s
presidential ticket were “misplaced” and should instead look for another
political party if they wished to run for the presidency.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
ODM has formally launched its 2027 election preparations by
inviting applications for all elective seats, including the presidency,
signalling a possible shift in its political strategy ahead of coalition talks
with President William Ruto’s UDA. The move has reignited internal debate over
whether the party should field its own presidential candidate or back Ruto’s
re-election bid. Oburu Oginga insists ODM’s constitution automatically grants
the party leader the presidential ticket if it opts to contest independently.
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