Raila rules out direct ticket in Homa Bay

The ODM candidate for the Homa Bay senatorial seat will be decided through a popular vote after the High Court handed the party 10 more days to settle on a torchbearer.

ODM leader Raila Odinga said the delegates system, which ended in chaos on Monday, had failed and the party will now turn to its members in Homa Bay County to determine the candidate.

He also declared that he had no preferred candidate from the eight aspirants who had stepped forward to seek the party’s ticket, saying, all were his “children”.

“The extension will give us good time to organise a proper election in which you (Homa Bay people) will be asked to vote directly for your candidate. I have no preferred candidate, all those who have come forward are my children,” Mr Odinga said in Rangwe, Homa Bay County.

DEADLINE WAS UNFAIR

He spoke moments after High Court Judge George Odunga overturned the deadline set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. The nomination deadline was moved from December 19 to December 27.

The 10 days, which started to count Wednesday, were issued in an application filed by a voter, Mr Kenneth Ogola, who argued that the electoral commission deadline was unfair, arbitrary and discriminatory. He argued that it will not give the people of Homa Bay a fair chance to elect their new senator.

Justice Odunga dismissed the electoral commission argument that an order of stay, even for a short period, would adversely affect its ability to conduct the by-election as envisaged by the law.

“Taking into account the fact that the intended by-election was occasioned by the death of the holder of the senatorial post for Homa Bay County, it is my view that IEBC ought to have given reasonable period to allow for the nominations as it has done in the past,” he ruled.

The deadline had earlier prompted the ODM National Elections Board to announce that they had agreed to give a direct nomination to one of the aspirants tomorrow.

In Homa Bay, Mr Odinga tasked party chairman John Mbadi to take charge of the nominations and ensure the chaos that scuttled the Monday exercise does not recur.

The nominations were called off after gun drama by a bodyguard of one of the aspirants, leading to the disruption of the exercise at the Homa Bay County Assembly yard.

The Cord leader, who had been under pressure to go for the seat that fell vacant following the death of Senator Otieno Kajwang’, said that he opted out of the race because he wanted Homa Bay people to make their choice.

“If Raila can contest in Lang’ata and win, what can stop me from contesting in Homa Bay?” he posed.

The party has planed to first eliminate some aspirants based on factors such as adherence to the party’s code of conduct and loyalty among others.
The board has also prepared a report based on a preliminary investigation of the chaos that rocked the party’s delegates vote.

Mr Odinga’s former Chief of Staff Caroli Omondi, former Rangwe MP Philip Okundi and Moses Kajwang’ are said to be favourites for the party’s direct ticket.
Suba elders have insisted that a pre-election agreement that saw Mr Kajwang’ clinch the seat in the 2013 election must be respected.

AGREED TO STEP DOWN
Under the deal, Karachuonyo constituency got the gubernatorial seat through Governor Cyprian Awiti, Kasipul got the County Speaker’s seat through Samuel Ochilo, while Rangwe, where Mr Okundi comes from, got the Woman Representative’s position that went to Gladys Wanga.

Others in the race are Mr George Mboya, Mr Silas Jakakimba and former National Social Security Fund managing trustee Fred Rabongo.

Dr Kenneth Kambona agreed to step down for Mr Okundi during a night meeting on Tuesday.

Reported by Isaac Ongiri, Maurice Kaluoch and Abiud Ochieng