ODM embraces consensus and polls to get new party officials

Kasipul Kabondo's ODM candidate is mobbed by youths as he is driven away from Agoro Sare Primary School grounds yesterday during the constituency-level elections. [FILE/ Standard] Opposition leader Raila Odinga's ODM party yesterday embraced consensus in several areas as it conducted much-awaited grassroots elections. While in some regions the race for seats was a contest, party members embraced consensus to help avert a potential fallout from chaotic party elections. This happened as the party expressed optimism that it will field a candidate to clinch the presidency in 2027. ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga said the party is actively preparing itself for the next polls and said they are putting in place strategies to strengthen the party. "The principal objective of a political party is to capture power and I want to assure Kenyans that ODM is destined to form government after the next elections," Wanga said. Speaking after casting her vote at Alara Korayo Polling Center in Kochia Ward, Rangwe Constituency, Wanga announced that the party is strategising on how to capture power in 2027. In Mombasa, ODM Charmian Mohammed Khamis alias Dee said other than Tudor Ward, polls were through consensus. "ODM members decided to make the exercise peaceful. Other than Tudor Ward where members rejected consensus all other places it was negotiated," said Dee. The party called for elections in all 47 counties to elect 30 officials at every polling station. In Taita Taveta, cracks emerged after one faction boycotted the election accusing area Senator Jones Mwaruma of imposing his allies to suit his political interests. Party supporters especially in Wundanyi Constituency said their names were missed in the party register. Others claimed there was interference and foul play in the grassroots elections. A faction opposed to the Senator claimed he had appointed officials to supervise the elections. Those close to the Senator however said some critics of the process were UDA supporters who infiltrated the process. "We have moved around the polling stations and found out that the names of our supporters are missing from the party register. If the party cannot address this anomaly then some of us will reconsider our stand on the party we cherish," said Raphael Mwawughanga, the outgoing county organising Secretary Senator Mwaruma denied claims of interfering with the polls as baseless, saying the exercise was supervised by officials appointed by the party's National Election Board (NEB). "Those claiming that I have interfered with the grassroots elections are spreading lies they cannot authenticate. It is supervised by officials appointed by the party's NEB," Mwaruma said. In Kilifi, elections in Malindi constituency went on smoothly in all polling stations with members opting for consensus. A spot check in some polling stations in Ganda ward showed a big turnout in Kwa Upanga and Maziwani primary. Ganda ward MCA Oscar Wanje was elected ODM youth league chairman unopposed through consensus. Similarly, at the party's strongholds of Nyanza and Western, the exercise went on smoothly albeit with pockets of confusion over the polling stations in some counties. A spot check by The Standard team at various polling stations depicted a low-key exercise and, in some areas, the polls were concluded by 2pm. In Shinyalu Constituency, the polling stations opened at 8am and ended at 2.30pm. The polls were largely peaceful and had no glitches, malpractices or chaos with party officials electing their preferred office bearers. In Lurambi constituency, Muliro Gardens, Kakamega Primary School, and Maraba which served as polling stations were empty, no returning officers or clerks were anywhere to be seen by 1pm. However, according to Kakamega ODM Election Board Chairman Simbauni Ndombi, 50 per cent of the election was done through consensus and the other was through the ballot. "ODM is a democratic and people's party, in areas that did not experience any election, officials were picked through consensus," said Ndombi. In Migori, the exercise was low key as only a handful of party members turned up to cast their vote. County election coordination committee chairman Jack Omenda said those who went to the stations early found them empty. "The voting started late due to delays in distributing forms," Mr Omenda said. Suna West MP Peter Masara who voted at Oruba polling station, said the process was transparent and peaceful. "ODM this time round has tried. Election officials were here on time and the exercise went on smoothly," Mr Masara said. [Report by Kelvin Karani, Renson Mnyamwezi, Hassan Barisa, Nehemiah Okwembah, James Omoro, Anne Atieno, Benard Lusigi and Clinton Ambujo]

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