No discrimination in ODM nominations, Raila Odinga assures aspirants

CORD leader Raila Odinga addresses his supporters outside Ufanisi resort in Kisii County shortly after addressing aspirants who are vying for various seats in the county, Raila urged his supporters to register as voters in large numbers so as to vote out the Jubilee government. [photos:Sammy Omingo/Standard]

ODM party leader Raila Odinga has assured all aspirants that the party will hold free and fair nominations.

Speaking to the media in Kisii yesterday after a closed-door-meeting with all ODM aspirants, Mr Raila assured that no candidate would be discriminated against.

"We are at a crucial stage in the election process and we are ready to ventilate on all issues. We want all party members to remain united even after the nominations," he said.

He said Kisii was an ODM zone and he would not want to see a situation where other parties win more elective seats.

"We must have majority seats both at the county assembly and Parliament," he said.

A source who attended the meeting told The Standard that some aspirants raised concerns on the upcoming party primaries, accusing Kisii Governor James Ongwae and nominated Senator Janet Ongera of supporting some candidates.

But Mr Ongwae shot back saying that was mere propaganda being peddled by some aspirants.

 proper coordination

Other aspirants complained that the party lacked proper coordination in the county.

The defection of ODM branch chairman Senator Chris Obure and Organising Secretary Joash Maangi to Jubilee Party sent jitters among aspirants in the region.

Some candidates expressed fear that the party could resort to boardroom democracy to pick candidates as was the case in 2013.

Raila said they were unhappy with the way the presidential directive on issuance of identification cards was being carried out.

He explained that the exercise seemed to be selective.

"The Government should be serious on this matter. There are several youths who are yet to get this noble document. This is a programme that should have been rolled out without any bias," he said.

The former premier noted that Kisii and Nyamira counties were still  behind in terms of voter registration. Ongwae said they had agreed to move forward as a team despite the 'normal' political issues.