ODM opens the door to Raila’s opponents

ODM finally amended its nomination rules and allowed members to challenge Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the party’s presidential ticket.

The party’s top decision organ, the National Governing Council amended the controversial section 6.2.1 of its Constitution that barred any member of the party from challenging Mr Odinga for the ticket.

After five hours of deliberations in Nairobi on Friday, the meeting resolved that Prime Minister Raila Odinga will not be the sole presidential candidate.

The party’s secretary-general Prof Anyang Nyong’o, while reading the NGC’s resolutions, said by this move, the party had effectively opened doors to those wishing to challenge Mr Odinga as ODM’s flag bearer in the forthcoming General Election.

“The party leader shall not be the sole presidential candidate. We have decided to open up the space for all those who aspire for the nomination,” said Prof Nyong’o.

He said nominations for the flag bearer will be conducted by the National Election’s Board during a delegates convention to be held at a later date.

The delegates, he added, will be converted into a national electoral college.

Friday’s meeting also endorsed a change in the party’s slogan from “Chungwa Moja, Maisha Bora, to “Chungwa, Maisha Bora,” due to the fact that the other Orange party – ODM-Kenya, led by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka had already changed its name to Wiper Democratic Party.

Prof Nyong’o also revealed that the party had agreed on how the nominations for county representatives, MPs, senators, governors and county women representatives will be conducted.

He said they will adopt a hybrid system of electoral college and universal suffrage to cater for the special needs .

The party further resolved to create county election coordinating panels to be appointed by the National Executive Committee, comprising of five “distinguished” members of the party.

The party, he revealed, will also roll out 22 campaign teams dubbed ODM operation “mashinani” (grassroots) which will be expected to mount vigorous campaigns across the country to popularise the party and its presidential candidate.

It also resolved that all disputes arising from the grassroots election will be resolved within the next three weeks.

Mr Odinga said they changed their nomination rules to allow for a level playing field to all candidates.

“This will ensure that the party meets the aspirations of Kenyans,” said Mr Odinga.