ODM may give direct tickets

TNA candidate for Othaya by-election Mary Wambui (centre) with supporters on the day she was cleared to run for the seat. ODM may issue direct nomination to candidates to contest the Migori and Mathare mini polls. Photo/ JOSEPH KANYI

In Summary
Party’s successful election petitioners could get direct nod to contest mini polls
Parties prepare for elections as IEBC set to announce dates

 By BERNARD NAMUNANE
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By Walter Menya
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The Orange Democratic Movement may hand direct nomination to its 2013 election candidates whose petitions succeeded in court.

Party executive director Magerer Langat said they were consulting opinion leaders in Mathare constituency (Nairobi) and Migori county.

However, he hinted that the party may settle for Mr Steven Kariuki (Mathare) and Prof Edward Oyugi for the Migori governor seat.

The constituency and county seats are among four whose date for by-election is set to be declared by the electoral commission.

The electoral commission has set April 29 as the date for a by-election in Othaya but is yet to announce the dates for the mini polls in Mathare, Migori, Bonchari and Nyando.

Mr Magerer on Tuesday said they had started meeting leaders from the constituencies and Migori county to seek their views on ODM candidates.

“We may want to proceed with old candidates,” he said by phone. “You cannot wait for a person to go court, win the petition and then come and tell us not to give him the ticket.”

He said the party was “being pushed unnecessarily by individuals.”

Mr Magerer’s remarks are unlikely to please some ODM leaders and members in Mathare, Nyando and Migori who want the party to field strong candidates to either retain or wrestle seats from their rivals.

Last week, lawyer Anthony Oluoch led youths to Orange House, the party’s headquarters in Nairobi, where they protested at reports that Mr Kariuki, Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s son, would be given direct nominations.

They questioned Mr Kariuki’s loyalty to ODM and demanded open nominations for the party’s candidates.

Tested loyalty

But Mr Margerer said Mr Kariuki’s loyalty had been confirmed by his case at the High Court and the appellate court to have the election in Mathare nullified.

“It is a long process which tests someone’s loyalty,” he said. The party had already held meetings on the possibility of Mr Kariuki’s direct nomination, he said.

“Tomorrow (Wednesday) or the following day, we will sit and approve our agreement.”

Two weeks ago, the Court of Appeal nullified the election of The National Alliance’s George Wanjohi and ordered for fresh election in Mathare following a petition by Mr Kariuki.

In Migori and Nyando, ODM headquarters is under pressure from MPs to subject the aspirants to open nominations to pick the best candidate.

They argue that Prof Oyugi lost to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Zachary Okoth Obado on popularity in Migori while in Nyando, Mr Fred Outa—who lost his seat in a petition—struggled to win.

Lost touch with people

“We had to bite the bullet in Migori because the nominations were marred with irregularities,” said Kisumu Central MP Ken Obura.

He said Mr Outa should not be given a direct ticket, claiming he had lost touch with the people.

Prof Oyugi successfully petitioned against Mr Obado in Migori while Mr Outa lost his seat following a petition by Ford-Kenya’s Jared Okello.