Hopefuls in ODM polls start lobbying for support

By James Mbaka and Renson Buluma

Kenya: Campaigns for top slots in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have kicked off in earnest ahead of next month’s party elections.

Already, a political showdown is looming between the party’s heavy weights in the make or break contest billed to shape the 2017 General Election.

Aspirants have started lobbying delegates to seek support for various seats ahead of the election expected to usher in fresh leadership in the party.

City political rivals former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo and former Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa are spoiling for a major political combat, with both eyeing the national organising secretary slot.

Ndolo has been deputising Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho as ODM’s national organising secretary. He was last week relieved of his duties as Athi Water and Sanitation Company board chairman and his position taken by former Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu.

Ndolo, who confirmed to The Standard he will running for organising secretary’s post in the election set for February 28 and March 1, said he hoped to clinch the post.  “I have been the deputy national organising secretary and believe that my past experience makes me fit for promotion to the full position,” he said.

He said he has in the past been involved in several grassroots activities to build the party and hoped to help ODM shore its membership if elected at next month’s NDC.

South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya has also thrown his hat in the ring for the post of chairmanship that has also attracted former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende.

Nyamweya, who served as Kisii region chairman of the original Ford-Kenya,  said he had high hopes he would clinch the post.

“I was arrested in 1982 while serving as a university of Nairobi students leader during the aborted coup and detained without trial, fought for the second liberation of this country alongside party leader Raila Odinga and now believe I am ready to provide party leadership,” Nyamweya told The Standard.

ODM officials in Busia County have endorsed MPs Ababu Namwamba and Paul Otuoma to vie for the positions of secretary general and deputy party leader respectively.

Addressing journalists at the party offices in Busia town, the officials led by Busia County Chairman Patrick Obongoya and County Youth Leader Eric Obayi said time had come for the region to hold a national office in the party.

Meanwhile, an ODM official has lobbied for Kakamega County to be accorded the second most senior position in the polls.

Nabii Nabwera,  ODM’s Director of Policy and Strategy, said the county was a key party stronghold which should not be given any position lower than that of deputy party leader.

—Additional reports by Brian Tumwa