Decision splits party supporters

What you need to know:

  • But Dr Kenneth Kambona said he would not support Mr Kajwang’s campaign and accused the party of short-changing him after payment of Sh250,000 for a nomination that did not materialise.
  • Another aspirant, Mr Caroli Omondi, claimed that the nomination was made on the premise that one of Mr Kajwang’s relatives threatened to commit suicide if their son was not nominated.
  • One of the aspirants, Mr Silas Jakakimba, declared that he had resigned from the party.

The decision by ODM to give a direct nomination to Mr Moses Kajwang, the brother of late Senator Otieno Kajwang, has split party supporters and drawn the ire of some candidates.

One of the aspirants, Mr Silas Jakakimba, declared that he had resigned from the party.

“I hereby tender my resignation as a member of ODM,” he wrote to the party headquarters Tuesday.

This could be a sign that he would seek the nomination of another party.

Another aspirant, Mr Caroli Omondi, claimed that the nomination was made on the premise that one of Mr Kajwang’s relatives threatened to commit suicide if their son was not nominated.

However, he said, he would continue being loyal to ODM.

“My membership and historical support to ODM will continue. The party rank and file should count on my services as we work towards 2017,” Mr Omondi said.

KENNETH KAMBONA

But Dr Kenneth Kambona said he would not support Mr Kajwang’s campaign and accused the party of short-changing him after payment of Sh250,000 for a nomination that did not materialise.

“I will not support Mr Kajwang; I have supported ODM financially for so long and if it’s a matter of loyalty, then Moses was not anywhere close to where other aspirants like me, Philip Okundi, Mr Omondi and Silas Jakakimba were,” Dr Kambona said.

Homa Bay branch ODM deputy youth leader Shem Odoyo and some party delegates led by Mr Jeremiah Gogo Achila said they will openly campaign against Mr Kajwang.

“What has Moses done for ODM? Can he tell us when he was registered and his membership number?” asked Mr Achila in Homa Bay yesterday.

But Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma warned against divisions following the decision, saying it would give ODM rivals an easy sail to clinch the seat.