Nasa's torch-bearer to be approved at convention

Preparations are on top gear for the much awaited Orange Democratic Movement party national delegates convention slated for this Friday.

The summit that will be held at Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani is expected to be a 'consecration' of the National Super Alliance (Nasa) flag-bearer Raila Odinga.

Mr Odinga is also the ODM leader.

THE NEXT PRESIDENT

Addressing the media after checking the progress of the preparations, ODM executive director Oduor Ong'wen said that the delegates’ council will ratify the endorsement of Mr Odinga as the party's presidential candidate.

"As you can recall, on October last year the national governing council endorsed the candidature of Raila Odinga but that was not enough as it had to be ratified by NDC.

"So this is going to be a climax of many things but most important we are going to give Kenya the next president," Ong'wen said.

He said that the party's constitution stipulates that they hold a national delegate’s convention every five years.

NASA PARTIES INVITED

The NDC is the highest organ of the party where crucial decisions are ratified.

"As a party we are obliged to summon all our delegates to formally nominate a presidential flag-bearer and our Constitution stipulates that the party presidential candidate must be nominated by the delegates," he said.

Mr Ong’wen said that they are expecting over 4,000 people, which include observers from Nasa affiliate parties, civil societies and international guests.

"We are expecting about 3,000 delegates plus about 1,000 observers. The last time we held one was in 2013 on February 28 and the main agenda was elections. But now we come here for a different purpose," the executive director added.

Other issues to be addressed are the concluded nominations and formalising the party's constitutional amendments.