Ndolo joins race for top ODM seat

Mr Reuben Ndolo. The former Makadara MP has announced his candidature for the national organising secretary post. PHOTO | FILE 

In Summary

• Mr Ndolo is expected to battle it out with former Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa, MPs Junet Mohammed and Opiyo Wandai.
• Mr Bosire, who attended the meeting at the party offices in Nyamira Town, said he was ready to serve the party as treasurer.
• Parliamentary Investment Committee chairman Adan Keynan is to battle it out with MPs Manson Nyamweya, Milly Odhiambo-Mabona, Dalmas Otieno, senators Otieno Kajwang’, Janet Ong’era and governors Evans Kidero and Josphat Nanok.

By SAMWEL BORN MAINA
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By HENRY NYARORA
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The race for ODM seats continued to attract more candidates Monday with former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo announcing his candidature for the national organising secretary post.

Mr Ndolo is the outgoing national deputy organising secretary for the party.

He said he was banking on his leadership style to convince the party delegates to elect him.

“I have twice led the ODM bandwagon in Nairobi county to win big, in the 2005 referendum and last year’s General Election in which I was the leader of the campaign team, Nairobi County. Time has come for me to prove my role nationally as the organising secretary,” he said.

TRAVERSE THE COUNTRY

Mr Ndolo is expected to battle it out with former Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa, MPs Junet Mohammed and Opiyo Wandai.

Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati said he was going to challenge former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for the position of Party Leader

.

“We are in a democratic party, I am throwing a challenge at former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the position of party leader. I will traverse the country to sell my manifesto,” he told Nation yesterday.

The National Delegates Convention will be held on February 28 to elect new officials.

The NDC is comprised of MPs, senators, governors and their deputies, eight executive members from sub-branches, 20 members from each county, 20 women and a similar number of youth representatives.

And in Nyamira County, ODM delegates yesterday endorsed Kitutu Masaba MP Timothy Bosire for the treasurer post.

The delegates, drawn from four constituencies in the region and led by branch chairman Stephen Nyakeriga, secretary Lewis Nyakweba and organising secretary Charles Sagwe also endorsed Mrs Rachael Gesami, the wife of West Mugirango MP James Gesami for the seat of deputy chairman, Women League.

The delegates said they deserved the two seats, considering that nearly all elected leaders in Nyamira County were ODM members.

Mr Bosire, who attended the meeting at the party offices in Nyamira Town, said he was ready to serve the party as treasurer.

The delegates urged their colleagues to support them to get the two posts.

“We hope other branches will support our two candidates for the posts we have earmarked for our county,” Mr Sagwe said.

Former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and Paul Otuoma had expressed interest in succeeding former Cabinet Minister Henry Kosgey as ODM chairman.

HIGHEST NUMBER

The vice-chairperson position has attracted the highest number of candidates.

Parliamentary Investment Committee chairman Adan Keynan is to battle it out with MPs Manson Nyamweya, Milly Odhiambo-Mabona, Dalmas Otieno, senators Otieno Kajwang’, Janet Ong’era and governors Evans Kidero and Josphat Nanok.

Senators Agnes Zani, Elizabeth Ongoro, James Orengo and MPs Nicholas Gumbo, John Mbadi and Ken Obura are set to fight it out for the secretary-general slot, which is currently held by Kisumu Senator Anyang’ Nyong’o, who has not announced whether or not he will defend the seat.