ODM on voter education ahead of party elections

Wednesday, 18 May 2011 00:07 BY MOSOKU GEOFFREY

The ODM's National Elections Board has started a voter education programme ahead of its elections set for next week. The board, which held consultative forums in Coast and Western regions in March, yesterday held meetings with prospective candidates for various positions in Eastern and Nyanza.
 Board chairman Philip Okundi said the programme is aimed at creating awareness amongst all stakeholders on the need to carry out trouble-free elections. The board members have formed four teams and will traverse all parts of the country to provide civic education.
 Okundi, secretary to the board Dr Joseph Misoi and commissioner Charles Welangai were in Kisumu Town Hall meeting stakeholders from Migori, Homabay, Kisumu and Siaya counties.
 Commissioners Paul Mbatha, Judy Pareno and councillor Hellen Katangie were holding a similar forum in Machakos where they met leaders from Machakos, Kitui and Makueni counties at the Machakos Social Hall.
Today, similar forums will be held in Kisii at the Gusii County Hall for candidates from Kisii and Nyamira Counties and in Embu at the Cannon House for stakeholders from Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Meru counties.
The ODM executive director Janet Ongera urged all stakeholders to turn up in large numbers for these forums, saying they are very important.
Ongera said the board will use the occasion to teach all prospective candidates on the procedures to be used during the elections. She said the elections will be used to prepare the party for next year’s general election. The ODM grassroot elections which have been postponed three times will take place from May 27 to 30.