Photo/FILE Prime Minister Raila Odinga (centre) joins youths in a dance at Turbo in Eldoret North constituency in April 2010.
By LUCAS BARASAlbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, November 13 2011 at 14:11
Posted Sunday, November 13 2011 at 14:11
The Orange Democratic Movement is to use over Sh10 million as it seeks youth and womens’ support in the upcoming grassroots elections.
The party, whose polls are set for November 24 to November 27, will allocate 20 slots each to them.
National Elections Board secretary Joseph Misoi told the Nation that women and youth chairpersons would automatically be their secretaries in the national party structure.
ODM Secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o and Dr Misoi said separately that plans have been finalised for the elections.
On Sunday, Dr Misoi said since the injunction had been discharged, all was set for the elections which will see party leader Raila Odinga’s seat being contested at a national delegates council.
He said it had been clarified that MPs are elected members and not “appointed” public officials, who are barred from holding party positions.
Dr Misoi, a former assistant minister and Eldoret South MP, said 47 election coordinators, a similar number of returning officers and their 210 deputies have been selected to oversee the elections.
He said the polls are to align the party organs with the constitution and devolve them to the grassroots so as to promote a democratic and accountable management of its affairs.
It is also meant to enhance the participation of all the members of the party, from the grassroots to the national level, in decision making and to rebrand and rejuvenate ODM to maintain its leadership.
Dr Misoi said: “Our vision is to build national leadership based on the 47 county governments as opposed to the selfish tribal coalitions which have created havoc in Kenya since independence.”
He said the election officials would sign a code of conduct to uphold a virtue of integrity as enshrined in the constitution, be impartial and non partisan.
Dr Misoi said the ODM elections board commissioners have been swapped so that none of them serves in their home areas for a free, fair and transparent polls.
The team won support from the party’s parliamentary group at a meeting attended by Mr Odinga on Tuesday.
He said each ward, location, sub-branch or branch would be free to employ its own election system agreed on by stakeholders.
The law requires that each party should have at least 1000 members in at least 25 counties but Dr Misoi said ODM’s aim is to have representation countrywide as it is a national party.
The party further wants to get strong candidates for elective positions in 2012. Dr Misoi said ODM had also made inroads in Eastern and Central Provinces and that the grassroots elections would stamp its authority in the areas.
He maintained that the party, which opinion polls have rated as most popular in the country, still enjoys support in Rift Valley which is Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s stronghold.
Mr Ruto, who is current ODM co-deputy leader, has stated that he will lead his supporters to UDM in next elections.
Prof Nyong’o said the polls would be held at sub-location level on November 24, location ( November 26) and branch (November 27).
In Kitutu Masaba constituency, where a by-election is to be held, Prof Nyong’o said the ODM grassroots elections would start on December 2.
“We call on party members to vie for any post, play by the rules and respect the National Elections Board which as a referee should remain neutral,” Prof Nyong’o said.
Prof Nyong’o, who was accompanied by co-Government chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo, assistant minister Alfred Khangati, ODM PG secretary Ababu Namwamba and its elections board chairman Philip Okundi, said the meeting also endorsed Mr Timothy Bosire as its candidate for the Kitutu Masaba seat.
He said ODM MPs will turn up in large numbers to campaign for Mr Bosire and urged the party supporters to back its candidates vying for the other 11 civic seats.
The Kitutu Masaba by-election will be held on November 28.The seat fell vacant after the court in Kisii nullified the election of Walter Nyambati citing irregularities.
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