Party warned ahead of Homa Bay primaries

Some Homa Bay County Senate seat aspirants have warned the Orange Democratic Movement's (ODM) national office against unfairly influencing the party nomination process.

ODM is expected to nominate a candidate on December 15 to stand in the Homa Bay by-election as the county seeks Otieno Kajwang's successor.

In a statement signed by National Elections Board chairperson Judith Pareno, ODM announced that the nomination exercise will be conducted by delegates from Homa Bay County due to the little time given by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for parties to nominate candidates.

"This decision has already been approved by the party's National Executive Committee. The delegates to take part in the nomination exercise (on December 15) will be drawn from all the constituencies in Homa Bay County, the 20 members of the Branch Executive, the nine Members of Parliament, the 48 Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and the Governor," read the statement.

 RAILA'S BLESSINGS

Wednesday a public forum convened by the Luo Council of Elders Homa Bay County branch and attended by four aspirants was used to call for democracy ahead of the party primaries.

The forum chaired by council boss Mzee Nyandiko Ongadi at Rose Muhando Grounds in Homa Bay town was turned into a political rally where aspirants declared their interest in the position.

Sources close to the ODM national office said the meeting did not receive the blessings of party leader Raila Odinga. The conveners, however, reiterated that it was in the interest of Homa Bay voters to meet the aspirants.

They said the meeting was convened after an earlier deliberation following divisions over the debate on Raila's candidature.