Party hopefuls table demands ahead of NDC

By STEVE MKAWALE and Grace Wekesa

A section of candidates in the ODM party elections have placed a series of demands ahead of the February 28 polls.

A faction led by Nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro wants the party election board to make the lists of party delegates public and state out the mode of elections.

Addressing the Press in Nakuru County while meeting party delegates from Central Rift, nine candidates said the election board must also make public the type of ballot papers to be used.

Speaking on behalf of candidates, Turkana governor Josphat Nanok said they would not allow the National Delegates Conference (NDC) to be a forum where some preferred party members will be endorsed.

“We want a free and fair process where delegates will have a chance to decide on who will lead the party,” said Nanok.

Nanok, who was accompanied by Ongoro, Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba, Bomachoge MP Stanley Ongare and nominated MP Jacob Mwaura., said they believed in democracy.

 Also present were former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo and Peter ole Mayian, who is contesting for party’s Deputy Secretary General.

Political democracy

Ongoro said her team is allied to Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and added that they were not interested in creating disunity in the party but ensuring political  democracy prevails.

“Our main purpose is to energise and strengthen ODM by ensuring regional balance, gender representation and incorporating old and young members,” she said.

Ongoro is contesting for party’s Secretary General seat together with Namwamba. Nanok will be gunning for party chairmanship while Ongare is vying for Treasurer’s seat. Joho is interested in the deputy party leader’s seat.

Namwamba told those gunning for positions in the party to understand that their main opponent is the Jubilee coalition and members should not take this opportunity to destroy the party ahead of the 2017 General Election.

“We are not interested in sideshows we need to keep the eye on the ball instead og fighting each other,” he said.

Ababu said the party leader and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga should be left out of the ongoing wrangles in the party, saying he (Raila) was also a candidate and should be left to concentrate on his campaign.

He said ODM will emerge stronger after the party polls.

Meanwhile, Senators and legislators from Western region have been urged to pull in one direction on matters affecting the region regardless of their party affiliation.

A meeting convened yesterday by Luhya Elders Forum at the home of former DC Harry Wamubeyi in Butere resolved to pile pressure on leaders from the region to work together and strive to revive collapsed Webuye Panpaper Mills and other ailing firms in Western.

Other matters deliberated on were how youth in the region could  be assisted to acquire IDs and voters cards. Governors Moses Akaranga (Vihiga), Kenneth Lusaka (Bungoma), host Wycliffe Oparanya and Busia deputy governor Kizito Wangalwa attended the meeting.

Senators Moses Wetang’ula, Henry ole Ndiema, Catherine Mukite, Daisy Kanainza. MPs Patrick Wangamati, Chris Wamalwa, Dr Simiyu Eseli, Wafula Wamunyinyi, Alfred Agoi, Ben Washiali, Yusuf Chanzu, John Waluke, Andrew Toboso, Raphael Otaalo and Dorcus Kedogo were also present.

The leaders, who were drawn from the five counties of Western, also reiterated that they have the capability to seek one political dimension of the region

Akaranga said the region requires unity in tackling development and political matters stressing that people must now embrace a work culture and stop pestering leaders for handouts.