Orange party names new elections board

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By ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, September 13  2012 at  21:00

IN SUMMARY

• Raila asks new team to conduct credible primaries at start of year, as he rules out direct nominations

The Orange Democratic Movement has reconstituted its elections board ahead of the party primaries next January, which have attracted more than 6,000 aspirants.

The new board will replace the previous one headed by former Rangwe MP Philip Okundi, who resigned to contest the Homa Bay governor’s seat.

Party leader Raila Odinga on Thursday announced that the revamped board was under instructions to conduct credible nominations.

Though Mr Odinga did not disclose the names of the board members, the Nation has established that Mr James Oloo Ogundo, Dr Joseph Misoi, Ms Hellen Katangie, Ms Muema Kitulu and Mr Ibrahim Rashid have been nominated to the board.

Others are former Kenya Football Federation secretary Mohamed Hatimy and East African Legislative Assembly MP Judy Pareno.

Speaking at a farewell party in honour of his former campaign manager James Ongwae at Panafric Hotel in Nairobi on Wednesday night, Mr Odinga said ODM would not give any aspirant, including its senior members, direct nomination.

“There are those who have expressed fears that the party is planning to offer certain people direct nomination. That I have already given James (Ongwae) here a direct ticket. I want to announce here today that ODM will not give anybody direct nomination,” he said.

Mr Odinga also used the occasion to introduce his new chief campaigner Eliud Owallo, who will now run the Raila for President Secretariat.

“At first I thought I had convinced him not to join elective politics because I believed being a career manager was the best job for him. But it appears the political bug had already infected him,” Mr Odinga said.

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Mr Ongwae said he was still in ODM, adding that his desire to join elective politics had been motivated by the Kisii electorate, who want him to steer the county.

“The people of Kisii have been calling on me to join them in structuring development. I have decided to heed their call,” he said.

He said the top county job required outstanding managers and that he was ready to work towards the prosperity of the agriculturally wealthy county.

Mr Owallo said he would implement programmes started by his predecessor and initiate new ones to ensure Mr Odinga wins the elections.

He said he will work together with the other secretariat officials to deliver the elections.

“We are going to ensure that all that can be done is done. We have a professional team at the secretariat and I am sure we can achieve the best,” Mr Owallo said.