Evans Kidero not our candidate for liaison committee chair, says ODM

The candidature of Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero for the chairmanship of Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC) has run into headwinds after ODM declined to support his bid.

Some members of the party’s leadership have questioned the Nairobi governor's loyalty to the party and insisted that Kidero could not be trusted to represent ODM’s agenda in the crucial committee.

Speaking to The Standard on Sunday, ODM Executive Director Magerer Langat said ODM was surprised when Kidero announced his bid to contest the committee's chairmanship.

“We were very surprised. He is our member but he is not a member of PPLC. You must be a member to contest any seat within the liaison committee because each party has one vote. Members of PPLC are normally secretary generals or executive directors. As a party, I can confirm he is not our candidate,” he said.

Langat said he has been designated by ODM Acting Secretary General Anyang' Nyongó to represent the party in the liaison committee.

PPLC meetings

“As you will see from the records, I have been representing ODM in all PPLC meetings. Each political party has one representative according to the rules. ODM will also contest and we have agreed to go for the chair of PPLC. I am therefore the candidate for ODM,” he added.

But speaking to The Standard on Sunday through his chief of staff George Wainaina yesterday, Kidero insisted as a member of a registered political party, he is qualified to contests and will proceed with his bid.

Kidero said he has since been endorsed by at least 35 political parties to contest the PPLC chairmanship.

“Besides Kidero being a member of CORD, at least 35 small parties have endorsed him. The fact that ODM has one vote does not mean Kidero can’t contest. As long as he is a member of a registered political party, he can and will contest. It would be unwise for the coalition to front any other candidate when Kidero has already won the support of 35 political parties,” said Wainaina.

The Registrar of Political Parties, Lucy Ndung’u, said the law requires all candidates hoping to contests for seats in PPLC to primarily be members of PPLC by way of belonging to a registered political party, and to be duly appointed by respective parties to represent them in PPLC. This message was contained in a letter Ndung’u wrote to all parties.

Langat has already been appointed by ODM to represent it in the committee and has been attending PPLC meetings, a fact that complicates Kidero’s chances .

The only option open to Kidero would be to be appointed by another party but even then, he would have to formerly resign from being a member of ODM. Political Parties Liaison Committee was created under the Political Parties 2011. Article 38 of the Political Parties Act 2011 reads: “There is established a Political Parties Liaison Committee. It shall be established at the national and county levels. The principal function of the Political Parties Liaison Committee is to provide a platform for dialogue between the registrar, commission and political parties.”

The elections of PPLC office bearers are scheduled for August 28.