ODM lists loyalists for nomination

By Geoffrey Mosoku   

KENYA: ODM has rewarded party loyalists by listing them for possible nomination to Parliament.  

Party Executive Director Janet Ong’era tops the list of nominees to the Senate in the category of women.

Ms Ong’era missed a nomination slot in 2007 and was recently prevailed upon by party leader Prime Minister Raila Odinga to shelve her ambition to contest the Kisii Senate seat to concentrate on running ODM secretariat.

Outgoing Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro, who is still protesting the direct nomination of Bishop Margaret Wanjiru to contest the Nairobi Senate seat, is listed number two, while Wanjiru is number three. Wanjiru will face off with Gideon Mbuvi Sonko of TNA for the Nairobi Senate race.

ODM chairman Henry Kosgey and Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei have been included in the list, in case they are swept away by the URP wave in Nandi.

Mr Kosgey is contesting the Nandi Senate seat on an ODM ticket while Sally is defending her Aldai parliamentary seat.

Ms Susan Mang’eni from Busia and Ben Ombima from Vihiga are the loyalists from Western whose names have been included in the list forwarded to IEBC on Friday.

Ms Mange’ni’s name is number two in the National Assembly list while Ombima has been put in the youth representative category.

Outgoing Mombasa Mayor Ahmed Modhar and ODM women league chair Betty Syengo’s names are in the parliamentary and Senate lists.

Former Kericho councillor Ronald Ngeny has also been included in the parliamentary list.

Apart from Ombima, Dan Kanaina’s name appears in the youth representative category, while representatives of disabled are Goldinah Omondi and Harun Kipchumba.

Others in the Senate list include: Halima Mohamed, Agnes Nzambi, Betty Syengo, Leonida Agumbe, Khadija Idris Mohamed, Esther Longorie, Esther Tolle, Aden Hassal, Elsie Mutinda, and Zahra Momae. 

National Assembly are Isaac Mwaura, Colleta Suda, Seth Mutua, Denita Gati, Hellen Yesuga, Salome Hawalda, Caroline Rop and Ronald Ngeny.