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| Former Cabinet Minister Nyiva Mwendwa with Ms Jane Kivati at a CORD strategy meeting at Uwaani in Voo location, Mutito constituency, yesterday.[PHOTO: PAUL MUTUA/STANDARD] |
KENYA: The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy had few prominent casualties in Thursday nomination races following deals to avoid potential losses.
But some big names crashed in various races On Friday, as voters got a free hand in the polls.
Allies of CORD presidential hopeful Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka are among those who sailed through easily or unopposed. ODM chairman Henry Kosgey (Nandi, Senate), James Orengo (Siaya, Senate), Gitobu Imanyara (Meru, Senate), Dalmas Otieno (Rongo, MP), Ali Hassan Joho (Mombasa, Governor), Ramadhan Kajembe (Mombasa, Senate), Chris Obure (Kisii, Senate), David Musila (Kitui, Senate), Johnstone Muthama (Machakos, Senate), and Sally Kosgey (Aldai, MP) secured their parties’ tickets.
The winners
Kalonzo’s other allies who won include Alfred Mutua (Machakos -Governor) Joe Mutambu (Mwingi Central – MP), Francis Nyenze (Kitui West -MP).
Raila’s other allies, who bagged the nomination tickets are Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache South - MP), Ababu Namwamba (Budalangi -MP) Fred Otuoma (Funyula - MP), and Amos Wako (Busia- Senate). Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim will run for Garissa County Senate.
The third CORD principal and Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula has his party ticket for Bungoma County Senate, as does former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo with Federal Party of Kenya nomination for the same position in Kakamega County. Forestry Minister Noah Wekesa will fly the CORD flag in Trans Nzoia county gubernatorial contest.
Most of these leaders will now constitute an expanded CORD presidential campaign and minister Fred Gumo will join them. Gumo’s political surrogate and immediate former Nairobi Mayor George Aladwa went unopposed in the ODM Makadara parliamentary nominations.
Another significant nominee for CORD is former LSK chairman Okong’o O’Mogeni for Nyamira County Senate. O’Mogeni is an ally of Raila and Kalonzo. The coalition is now shaping strategies to help nominees, especially in areas outside its strongholds, to capture their seats. This will involve discouraging challenges from alliance aspirants who were unsuccessful in the nominations. The alliance will, for instance, not allow any of its member parties to field rival candidates in Nairobi, as this would divide votes.
The extension by three day by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to file list of nominee has also given the CORD alliance more time to finalise negotiations to have at least one candidate in Mombasa and Nairobi and other swing vote areas through ‘negotiate democracy’. On Friday, Raila’s secretariat head Eliud Owallo said their team was committed to a fair and democratic process saying the exercise had proved that there were no scared cows.
“Our determination was that the will of the people should prevail, those who have won should be given tickets while those who have lost should concede defeat and embrace the winners,” Owallo said.
He said that the losers and winners would play an active role in ensuring not only a Raila win, but also a CORD majority in the elective seats.
Poll strategy
“We want to come out strong with at least 60 per of gubernatorial and senatorial seats, and about 60 per cent of MPs,” Owallo said.
He added that the discussions to have CORD field one candidate by partner parties in cosmopolitan areas and other swing votes will be spearheaded by the Franklin Bett-led elections board.
Onyonka said the ODM nominations were largely peaceful and will now strengthen CORD alliance as formal campaigns kick off.
“This is just the beginning of the campaigns; we are now preparing for a gruelling battle that we must win on March 4,” Onyonka, the Kitutu-Chache South ODM nominee said.
Joho said the CORD alliance would stage a campaign historic campaign so as to win the hearts and souls of voters.
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