ODM picks Kajwang’ for Homa Bay race
Homa Bay senate seat aspirant Mr Moses Kajwang'. Cord leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula will lead ODM troops to Homa Bay to campaign for Mr Kajwang'. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE |
What you need to know:
- The former Rangwe MP was dropped after the NEB and the party’s National Executive Council considered an existing pre-election deal, which had set aside the Homa Bay senatorial seat for the Suba region.
- Mr Kajwang’ accepted his nomination and promised to deliver victory to the party. “I respect the wisdom of the party and its leadership and hereby promise a great victory in the by-election on February 12,” he said.
- However, Mr Jakakimba, who has been Mr Odinga’s long-time assistant, announced he had resigned from ODM.
ODM has settled on Moses Otieno Kajwang’ as its candidate for the Homa Bay senatorial by-election.
The party relied on a survey said to have been conducted by its political affairs department and “wide consultations” to pick the 35-year-old Information and Communication Technology expert as its flag bearer in the February 12 election.
Mr Kajwang’, who has been the Group General Manager for ICT and Innovation at ICEA Lion, was ranked second to former Rangwe MP Philip Okundi in the survey. Former Prime Minister’s chief of staff Caroli Omondi was third.
Party leader Raila Odinga is said to have played a central role in deciding the party’s candidate after holding meetings with ODM officials John Mbadi (Chairman), Ababu Namwamba (Secretary-General), Junet Mohammed (Director of Elections) and the party’s National Elections Board chairperson Judy Pareno.
The former Rangwe MP was dropped after the NEB and the party’s National Executive Council considered an existing pre-election deal, which had set aside the Homa Bay senatorial seat for the Suba region.
“We consulted widely, interviewed all the seven candidates and conducted a scientific political survey before we made the hard decision of picking Mr Kajwang’ as our candidate,” Ms Pareno said.
However, she did not explain the variables used in the survey, the sample size and where it was conducted.
ACCEPTED HIS NOMINATION
“We tried our best in making this decision despite the short time we had, being that we had the best candidates.
“Now we appeal to them to accept this decision and join the party in supporting the winner,” she added.
Mr Kajwang’ accepted his nomination and promised to deliver victory to the party. “I respect the wisdom of the party and its leadership and hereby promise a great victory in the by-election on February 12,” he said.
Other candidates who sought the ODM ticket include Mr Caroli Omondi, Mr Silas Jakakimba, Mr George Mboya, Mr Kenneth Kambona and Mr Fred Rabongo.
Mr Omondi dismissed the nomination as having been done “on the premise of threats”, but said he would stay put in the party .
“Going forward, my membership in, and historical support to, ODM will continue. “The party’s rank and file should count on my services and support to the party in the period ahead as we work towards 2017.”
However, Mr Jakakimba, who has been Mr Odinga’s long-time assistant, announced he had resigned from ODM.
“I am in a meeting with my team to come up with a concrete decision on how to move forward. But what we can say for now is that we will meet Moses in the ballot,” he said.
Party chairman John Mbadi said the party would put up a strong campaign for Mr Kajwang’, while Mr Mohammed appealed to ODM’s supporters to accept the decision.
