Barasa declared ODM Kakamega chair after contentious polls

Governor Fernandes Barasa being declared winner as Kakamega ODM County Chair by a returning officer at Ikolomani KMTC Campus. [Benard Lusigi,Standard] Kamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has been declared the ODM County Chairperson winner during the party primaries that took place at Ikolomani KMTC Campus, retaining the position he has been holding for the last two years Governor Barasa was defending the seat against Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, who had declared interest in the seat. This occurred after the earlier planned election failed to take place due to disagreements among delegates allied to Barasa and Nabwera over the voting method. Barasa's camp advocated for acclamation or consensus, while Nabwera's camp supported a secret ballot as the voting method. This move forced the returning officer to postpone the election until further notice. However, a day later, the ODM party announced Monday, September 1, 2025, as the date for the repeat election. However, on Monday, the attempts by the two camps and ODM to agree on the voting method did not bear fruit after intense seven-hour talks. The Nabwera's camp walked out of the voting venue, leaving Barasa's camp and the election officials led by Felix Ngara, a returning officer who later conducted the election and declared Barasa as the newly elected ODM County chairman. Barasa, while addressing the party delegates, welcomed the move, promising to strengthen the party, unite the disgruntled members, and make the party popular in the county. "I am grateful to the delegates of the ODM party for electing me to serve in this position again. In the future, I commit to ensuring that the party remains visible and vibrant," Barasa said. He further committed to ensuring that ODM wins the majority of political seats in the upcoming 2027 general elections. "I owe my allegiance to my party leader, Raila Odinga, and as the chairperson, I will ensure that most positions from Governor, Senator, Woman Representative, MPs, and MCAs are taken by ODM," he said. The election also saw Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe being elected as County Coordinating Secretary, his Butere counterpart Tindi Mwale as County Coordinating Organising Secretary, Nelson Majimbo as Deputy County Coordinating Chairperson, Ben Mukoto as the Treasurer, MCA Gladys Mukongolo as the women leader, Ernest Keya as the Youth Leader and Rosemary Makonjo as the representative of persons with disabilities, among others who will comprise the 20-member executive committee and carry out the party affairs in the county. Barasa and his team have in the past accused Nabwera of being a trojan horse of Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives Wycliffe Oparanya and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula to kill the party band and pave the way for a regional political party. Mr. Ngala, the returning officer, announced that Barasa and his team are the official team to lead and steer ODM affairs in the county. "I have conducted a peaceful election and according to the party regulations, I declared Governor Barasa as the rightful newly elected winner alongside the executive office, and he his mandated to lead the party affairs in the county However, MP Nabwera, with his team comprising Kakamega Women Representative Elsie Muhanda, Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka and Lurambi MP Titus Khamala, went to Iguhu Market where they declared the lawmaker as the ODM County Chairperson. Nabwera disputed the election and declared himself the county chair, stating that he is going to unite and revamp the party. "ODM is the party anchored on democracy, and, unfortunately, the party has been taken over by people who do not want democracy in the party. I have won the election, and we don't recognise the purported election that has taken place today. I am the rightful winner, and I am going to make the party strong and revive it," said Nabwera. He added, "We have taken the party back to its people, and I am going to ensure I work together with the executive officials."

Barasa declared ODM Kakamega chair after contentious polls

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Barasa declared ODM Kakamega chair after contentious polls

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