CORD faces tough challenge in Kajiado Central

Kajiado, Kenya: Aspirants wishing to contest the Kajiado Central parliamentary seat on an Orange Democratic Party (ODM) ticket have until tomorrow to collect their application forms.

The party is fighting to recapture the seat left vacant following the appointment of Joseph Nkaissery as Interior Cabinet Secretary. ODM had initially demanded that the Jubilee Coalition avoids fielding a candidate, arguing that the President had poached Nkaissery; who had been elected on an ODM ticket. However, the ruling coalition told the Opposition to brace for a duel.

ODM, which held its National Executive Committee meeting yesterday, has already invited interested aspirants to present their applications.

In its bid to parry away the TNA onslaught, the party has organised extensive tours of the region in the run up to the by-election, which will be held on March 16.

“The party has planned an extensive tour of Kajiado Central Constituency next week. We would like to assure our supporters in Kajiado and the entire county that we shall field a popular candidate to face off with our opponents in the March by-election,” said the coalition in a statement released after a meeting held at the party’s Orange House headquarters.

Among the candidates who have expressed interest in the seat on ODM ticket is former lecturer Naomi Kipuri. She is the only female aspirant to have expressed interest so far.

ttling it out with a host of other aspirants from the Jubilee Coalition including Simon Peter Nkeri, Patrick Tutui, Elijah Memusi Kanchori, Dr Leina Mpoke and Antony Kiroken.

 DEFLATE ODM

ODM National Elections Board Chairperson Judy Pareno said the party has set a deadline of tomorrow for candidates to pick their application forms.

“We have opened up the applications. All interested parties should come and collect forms before Friday this week,” said Pareno.

The by-election, by all indications, is a tricky affair for the Orange Party, which is likely to deploy massive resources to retain the seat. There are no indications that the political dynamics that made it win the seat in the last General Election are still intact. Jubilee will on the other hand be attempting to wrestle away the seat and deflate the Orange numbers in the House.

Kajiado Central constituency has about 39,545 registered voters, with clan politics once again likely to dominate the campaigns.

Kanchori contested in the 2013 election on a Kenya National Congress ticket but lost to Nkaissery.