Shambolic ODM primaries negate its well-sounding reform platform
Funyula MP Paul Otuoma's supporters protest at the tallying centre in Busia Agricultural Training Centre after ODM nomination results were announced on April 14, 2017. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In Bungoma, some aspirants claimed their names had been omitted from the list.
- Busia was the mother of ignominy, with gubernatorial aspirant Paul Otuoma finding his wide lead in the vote count overturned overnight.
- In some cases, unwanted aspirants are simply being set up to do something stupid so they can get eliminated from the race.
- Elsewhere, more subtle forms of rigging seem to be preferred to the crude methods used on Ms Ongoro.
The ODM party nominations kicked off to familiar scenes last Thursday. Rowdy supporters of one aspirant kicked ballot buckets about in Machakos, Men-in-Black-style.
In Bungoma, some aspirants claimed their names had been omitted from the list.
Busia was the mother of ignominy, with gubernatorial aspirant Paul Otuoma finding his wide lead in the vote count overturned overnight.
The Kibaki-Raila 2007 presidential race, anyone?
Well, one would say it is the same old ODM. That the party — like former US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger said of its leader in leaked diplomatic cables — is naturally disorganised.
MISMANAGEMENT OF ELECTIONS
But is it? A scrutiny of ODM’s recent management of internal elections reveals something akin to deliberate chaos.
In some cases, unwanted aspirants are simply being set up to do something stupid so they can get eliminated from the race.
Take the case of Ms Elizabeth Ongoro, the Nominated Senator.
Someone at Orange House knew the no-nonsense senator would not hesitate to send her “boys” over to demand justice after leaked reports indicated that her rival was on course to receive a direct nomination for the Ruaraka parliamentary race. She walked into a well-laid trap and got knocked out.
IMPOSSIBLE OPTION
They wanted Ms Ongoro out so badly that the disciplinary committee gave her the impossible option of vying in a different constituency, if she had to.
The senator has since chosen to stay put in Ruaraka and do battle with ODM’s blue-eyed boy on Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC ticket.
Elsewhere, more subtle forms of rigging seem to be preferred to the crude methods used on Ms Ongoro.
The situation developing in my home county, Kisumu, is particularly interesting. Incumbent Governor Jack Ranguma is defending his seat against Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o, businessman Hezron McObewa and other fringe aspirants.
In this county, an ODM candidate is considered to have one foot in an elective office.
CLEAR FRONT RUNNER
Opinion polls say Mr Ranguma is the clear frontrunner, with the latest Infotrak survey giving him 58.7 per cent of the vote against Prof Nyong’o’s 8.7 per cent and Dr McObewa’s 6.8 per cent.
But in the run up to the ODM nominations in the county on April 24, the public debate tended to focus more on the composition of the local party elections board that will oversee voting.
The Ranguma camp has complained that key people on the elections board are close to his main rival, fuelling speculation about plans to rig the nominations. Kisumu might be the next Busia.
The irony in the rigging claims is that the party has often fashioned itself as the victim of electoral malpractices at the hands of the electoral commission and pushed for reforms.
If ODM wishes to fortify its reform narrative, it has to offer its aspirants a level playing field.
The writer is the chief sub-editor, ‘Business Daily’. [email protected]. @otienootieno
