ODM legislators call for inclusion in selection of election board members

ODM leaders want people of integrity to be appointed to the party's National Elections Board (NEB).

The leaders said for necessary party reforms to be undertaken, those picked to serve in the board should be people of credibility.

MPs Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town) and Omondi Anyanga (Nyatike) said even though the prerogative of selecting the board members remains with the National Executive Council (NEC), wide consultations with other party organs must be made.

Mr Anyanga wants NEC to convene a Parliamentary Group meeting to get views from the members since the board is a party organ that affects all members and its formation must be inclusive.

"The formation of the new NEB needs wide consultation. The persons who will sit on the board should be people of high integrity who will work for the success of the party leader," said Anyanga.

The Nyatike legislator said giving NEC members the express mandate to pick the new board might lead to lack of confidence and conflict of interest.

He said after both NEC and the Parliamentary Group have made their recommendations; the party leader Raila Odinga should be allowed to make the final decision without any pressure and threats.

"We are major stakeholders in the party. Once NEC and PG have made their proposal, the party leader should not be put under pressure to pick a particular candidate," said Anyanga.

Mr Kaluma said the process of picking the board members should be an all-inclusive affair if the party is to capture more seats in the 2017 polls.

Kaluma said despite the party's constitution placing the authority of picking NEB on NEC, other stakeholders should be included in the process to make it all-inclusive.

"We must pick people of high integrity who will uphold the people's will at every level. The stakeholders are critical in this process and should be consulted," said Kaluma.

NEC has disbanded the NEB, leaving only the chair, Judy Pareno, even as the party prepares to conduct nominations in Ngobit and West Uyoma wards.

Ms Pareno yesterday said even though NEB is yet to be fully reconstituted, herself and the secretariat will professionally handle next weeks nomination process in the two wards.

"The board was disbanded but I was left so there is no vacuum," she said.