ODM aspirants put on notice as party plans strict vetting process

Daughter of the late William Ole Ntimama Gladys Ntimama (second right) accompanied by (From Left) her brother Amos Ntimama, grand son Meikan Ntimama receiving post humously a certificate of the Distinguished Service Award from Orange Democratic Movement Party leader Raila Odinga during ODM Life Members Dinner and Dance to mark 10th edition of the party at Hotel Laico Nairobi on Friday night, Sept 3, 2016. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Getting an ODM ticket to vie for an elective post in the 2017 elections will be no walk in the park.

The party is planning strict vetting of aspirants before nominations to ensure only credible individuals loyal to the Orange party are picked.

And ODM leader Raila Odinga has put on notice those not comfortable with the party to leave. Speaking on Friday during a dinner for ODM life members at Laico Regency in Nairobi, Raila said the party was only interested in those who believe in its ideals.

“Those who do not want to toe the lie should go, we want to remain with members who believe in the Orange party,” said Raila.

The Standard on Sunday has learnt that the newly inaugurated elections Board headed by East African Legislative Assembly member Judith Pareno is under firm instructions to conduct democratic and fair party primaries.

Aspirants are now anxious whether they will pass the credibility and loyalty tests, which form the bottom line of the vetting.

ODM national chairman John Mbadi said all candidates will be vetted especially in the party’s strongholds where they plan to hold competitive nominations.

Mr Mbadi said the vetting will be conducted by the National Elections Board (NEB).

“The vetting will be done based on objective parameters without any form of malice,” he said adding that even mature democracies in the developed worlds adhere to the vetting process.

The Suba MP clarified that other party organs are not mandated to vet candidates.

“Let the county organs understand that they have no role to play in the party nominations. That responsibility is not even with the party leader or the chair,” he said in an exclusive interview.

He was reacting to the recent incident in Migori where youth stormed a meeting convened by county party organs allegedly to vet aspirants.

Mbadi assured that the nominations will be fair and free.

“For the first time since its inception, ODM will hold free and fair nominations and the winner will be given the certificate. No one will be favoured for whatever reason,” he said, adding that ODM has unveiled an election board which has come up with new set of rules and regulations.

The party chairman however, said loyalty would be a key prerequisite in the forth coming nominations and vetting.

DISQUALIFIED

“We do not want people whose loyalty is wavering; we want candidates who even if they lose fairly in the nominations will stick with the party,” he said. He said there are individuals who ride on ODM’s popularity to win elections and ditch the party there after and revealed that this is what informed the whole idea of vetting candidates.

Mbadi warned aspirants who incite their supporters to cause violence that they will also be disqualified from nominations.

“It is in our rules and we will disqualify anyone who instigates violence or deny them a ticket,” he said.

He regretted that some greedy people have cost the party and Raila’s presidential bid after they painted ODM and the Luo community as rowdy and violent people.

However, Kitutu Chache South MP Richard Onyonka opposed the vetting saying that was one of the contentious issues in the new elections amendment Bill.“Clause 2, 3 and 4 says the party is going to select the candidates that their names are going to be given to the IEBC and then the IEBC will conduct nominations,” he said.

Mr Onyonka said the party leadership can take advantage of the vetting to kick out some aspirants and consequently prevent them from participating in elections which is contrary to the bill of rights in Chapter 4 of the Constitution.

“It is unacceptable and totally wrong to vet candidates no matter how noble the intentions might be. Parties should just carry out nominations so that people can be chosen by the voters and not the party selecting individuals to appear in the party’s list to be presented to IEBC,” he added.

But Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi allayed fears that the party might have preferred candidates for nominations saying the NEB is autonomous and will adhere to set rules.

Homa Bay Women Representative, Gladys Wanga welcomed the vetting saying if NEB works in line with the party’s constitution only popular and loyal aspirants will be picked. “I think it is an important procedure in the party that will ensure those presented for nomination are really supporters of the party,” she said.

Kasipul Kabondo MP Silvance Osele questioned the rationale of free and fair nominations. “The nominations cannot be free and fair to Jubilee sympathisers who have jumped ship and joined ODM just to get elected, it will only be free and fair to ODM members who are committed to the ideals of the party,” he said.

He added that, this is where the loyalty clause comes in and the questions the vetting exercise will ask are, “are you a party member, are you subscribing to the fees and are you disciplined to the party organs and supporters, and that is why we will shun violence propagating leaders.”

Migori Senator Wilfred Machage who has recently kept off  ODM functions wants the party to clarify what it means by vetting candidates loyalty.

“Will it be how many times you mention the Party leader’s name, yell at funerals or what will be their ‘loyalty meter’ when gauging a candidate’s loyalty?” Dr Machage posed.

FORMIDABLE OUTFIT

He however urged members to respect the party and its ideologies.

 

Meanwhile, Raila said CORD is keen to build a formidable outfit that will take over the government next year.

“We are prepared to take over the government and save Kenyans who are suffering under Jubilee. The ruling coalition is lying to Kenyans that the economy is growing as they continue to suffer in their hands,” he said.

He revealed that CORD co principals are keen to build a bigger alliance with other politicians to ensure victory in 2017. Raila said they will pick one co-principal to be the flag coalition.

“We will not go far looking for a flag bearer, one among us will carry the flag, and we will announce him at our convenient time not because Jubilee wants us to,” said Raila.

_ Additional reporting by Jacob Ngetich