Tough rules for ODM aspirants in Homa Bay

The result of a secret survey ODM commissioned to gauge the popularity of candidates eyeing the Homa Bay senatorial seat is among factors that will inform nomination of the party’s flag-bearer on Monday.

The successful candidate will also be the one who has been loyal to ODM, the party announced on Sunday ahead of today’s meeting the party’s Orange House headquarters, where it will directly nominate its candidate.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Elections Board (NEB) are set to nominate a candidate ahead of the February 12, 2015 mini-poll.

Mr Philip Okundi, Mr Caroli Omondi, Mr Silas Jakakimba, Mr Fred Rabongo, Dr Kenneth Kambona, Mr George Mboya and Mr Moses Kajwang’ are angling for the ODM ticket.

ODM chairman John Mbadi and a member of the NEB, Mr Peter Odoyo, separately told the Nation that the two organs will also consider integrity and contribution to the party.

“The elections board has met all aspirants and they have signed a code of conduct setting out guidelines. We will be considering all those factors. ODM is a party which places a high premium on integrity,” he said.

FEELINGS OF THE PEOPLE

“The board had commissioned a survey across Homa Bay to gauge the feelings of the people towards each candidate. That will be a major consideration,” he said.

Mr Odoyo confirmed that they would consider several factors before settling on the party’s candidate.

“A candidate’s contribution to the party, financially, materially or intellectually; the 2013 informal power-sharing agreement that spared the senate seat to the Suba/Mbita; the governor’s seat to Rachuonyo and the Woman Representative’s to Rangwe/Homa Bay Town will be major factors,” Mr Odoyo said.

“We shall also review last Monday’s aborted delegates meeting and role some of the candidates could have played in the violence. That is where one’s integrity will come into play. We shall also consider the ongoing talks between the candidates towards getting a compromise candidate. We shall settle on a candidate who NEC will officially nomination,” the former Nyakach MP said.

Mr Omondi, seen as one of ODM’s main funders, on Sunday insisted that a candidate’s contribution to the party be a major consideration.

“We cannot ignore an individual’s contribution and investment in ODM over the years,” he said.

LEADERSHIP CHANGE

Mr Jakakimba argued the aspect of loyalty to party leader Raila Odinga must be factored in the nomination process, an apparent jibe against Mr Omondi, who is viewed as belonging to a camp pushing for leadership change in ODM.

Mr Mbadi also told of a plan to convince ODM Cord partners, Wiper and Ford Kenya, not to field candidates to better the Orange party’s chances of recapturing the seat.

“We have a gentleman’s agreement within Cord that we do not compete against each other. We did it during the Bungoma by-election when we as ODM declined to field our candidate David Makali to compete against Wetang’ula (Moses),” he said.

An aide to Mr Odinga said all candidates are trying to reach out to the former PM, directly or through proxies, to win his support.