ODM elections enter crucial national and county stage

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By Augustine Oduor

The Orange Democratic Movement Partyelections are set to draw more heat this weekend, as focus turns to national and county representatives.

Unlike the past two days, the elections to be held Saturday and Sunday will be hotly contested and secret ballots used to elect some 5,500 delegates ahead of the National Delegates Convention in January.

The current elected party officials will face the ultimate challenge from new entrants, who have expressed interest in party positions.

Already, deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has expressed interest in being party leader, currently held by Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

This means that Raila will have to work hard to retain his position during the party delegates’ convention.

As the party elections heat up, the post of the secretary general has also attracted many contestants, even as the current office holder and Medical Services Minister Anyang’ Nyon’go hopes to defend the seat.

Nyong’o ouster

Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba and TJ Okinda are some of the leaders who have vowed to oust Nyongo. Also in the race is Larry Gumbe who has headed the think tank group of intellectuals-cum-politicians at ODM headquarters.

The other positions that have attracted new contestants are that of party chairman, the secretary youth, and the organising secretary.

Bureti MP Franklin Bett, who is also Roads minister, has offered to contest the chairmanship of ODM, currently held by former Industrialisation minister Henry Kosgey.

There have been unconfirmed reports that Kosgey, who is facing accusations together with five other people of masterminding the 2008 post-election violence, will defend his seat.

During the Thursday elections, Kosgey was elected unopposed in his Tinderet constituency. Dagoretti parliamentary candidate who is also the current youth secretary, Joe Kiarie, will face competition from one Ben Ombima who is the youth leader in Western. Rosa Buyu is expected to contest the position of organising secretary held by Kisauni MP Ali Hassan Joho.

Raila is, however, on record saying he will not support any leader to win any slot as the party aims to entrench democracy. Another position to be contested is that of party treasurer formerly held by former South Mugirango MP, Omingo Magara.

Magara resigned from the party after he defected in the run-up to the by-election in his constituency last year. The NDC scheduled for next year will see top national party leaders elected as the party readies itself for the General Election due next year. However, separate women and youth national delegates conference has been slated for next month.

The two meetings will elect one representative of the women and youth, bringing to two, the number of representatives elected ahead of General Election.