ODM puts off polls to focus on BBI rallies

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) national elections have been postponed. Secretary General Edwin Sifuna (pictured) said the elections have been suspended until they are done with the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rallies.

“We have suspended the elections first to deal and dispense with the BBI rallies and possible referendum. It is thereafter that we will announce new dates,” said Sifuna.

He spoke a day after ODM leader Raila Odinga made a similar statement, saying they will do party polls after the BBI process is concluded.

Anxiety has been building among ODM supporters keen to occupy party positions, and some were retreating to strategise ahead of the elections that were to be held at the end of next month.

The party last conducted elections in 2014 at Kasarani Stadium, which turned chaotic as the infamous ‘men in black’ interrupted the process.

First quota

Earlier, preparations were in top gear to hold the party polls by the “end of the first quota of 2020”, according to Sifuna.

Registrar of Parties Ann Nderitu had warned that parties that fail to comply with the law will be de registered or suspended.

The Political Parties Act requires parties to conduct their national elections after every five years.

Nderitu said the election dates vary among the 68 fully registered political parties, depending on their constitutions.

ODM, Jubilee, Wiper and Amani National Congress are the most affected after the five-year term of their officials expired.

The parties are expected to conduct elections in the first quarter of 2020 to beat the March 29 deadline. Jubilee Party also postponed its planned elections last month following the death of former President Daniel Moi.