Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), rattled by mounting ticket wars, announced last-minute primaries in Ugunja and Kasipul constituencies on Friday, as Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi kept his followers guessing on the Baringo Senate seat, setting the stage for a November 27 by-election widely seen as a litmus test for the shifting political currents.
ODM said the two constituencies have attracted multiple aspirants and, in the spirit of “transparency”, will hold primaries between September 24 and 27 to settle on its candidates.
“The party election panel is fully prepared and will ensure the exercise is free, fair, transparent and credible,” said Ms Emily Awita who chairs the ODM National Elections Coordinating Committee.
She added that ODM’s readiness to subject its tickets to competitive primaries “is proof of our commitment to strengthening democracy in the party and across the nation”.
Aspirants in Chewani, Kisa East, Purko and Namaan wards were handed direct tickets after emerging unopposed.
The party also handed a direct ticket to former Magarini MP Harrison Kombe to defend his seat in the by-election.
Mr Kombe’s 2022 victory was nullified by the High Court, which cited irregularities in the conduct of the vote.
The Ugunja seat fell vacant when then-holder James Opiyo Wandayi was appointed Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary while Kasipul was because of the assassination of area MP Charles Ong’ondo Were in Nairobi.
Meanwhile, Mr Moi who is still nursing the scars of his 2022 loss to William Cheptumo of President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has not declared intention to contest the seat.
Mr Moi’s silence has fuelled speculation on whether the by-election could mark his political rebirth or signal the fading of the Moi dynasty’s influence in the Rift Valley.
Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Kanu has remained non-committal even as pressure mounts from local leaders on the former senator to make a comeback.
“There are things ahead of us. When time is ripe, I will return to you the people. When you are with me, everything else is automatic,” the former Baringo senator said recently.
In the 2022 General Election, Cheptumo garnered 141,777 votes against Mr Moi’s 71,480. Mr Moi was defending the seat for the third term.
Mr Felix Chelaite of The Service Party garnered 3,261 votes.
There have been calls for the Kanu chairman to go for the position, with some leaders in Baringo saying his absence in local politics is being missed.
The by-elections are being cast as a referendum of sorts. For the ODM, it is a chance to project itself as a party of internal democracy and preserve its western strongholds; for UDA, it is a test on whether it can defend its dominance in the Rift Valley; for Kanu, it is a potential opening or closing of the former senator’s political chapter.
Should Mr Moi attempt to reclaim the Senate seat, it would complicate UDA’s presumed stranglehold and remind the ruling coalition that Rift Valley loyalties cannot be taken for granted.
If he stays out, UDA will likely tighten its grip, and Mr Moi could risk sliding into irrelevance.
The party won the key elective seats in Baringo in 2022, including the governor which was won by Mr Benjamin Cheboi and Ms Florence Jematia as area Woman Representative.
UDA has cleared nine aspirants, including youthful hopefuls like Mr Vincent Kiprono Chemitei and veterans like Mr Daniel Kiptoo and Mr Wycliffe Tobole, who have traversed the vast Baringo County in search of votes ahead of the September 20 nominations.
Mr Chemitei, who took his campaigns to Eldama Ravine and Mogotio on Thursday, said his main agenda is to oversee the devolved government implement policies that would create jobs for young people.
“I am a young person and promise to play my oversight role in the Senate when elected,” he said in Eldama Ravine.
“I have the interest of young people at heart. I pledge to ensure the creation of policies that will see young people get jobs. I will make follow-ups to ensure taxpayers’ resources are spent well.”
Mr Kiptoo, a native of Baringo Central sub-county, also took his campaigns to Eldama Ravine, saying he has the experience, knowledge and capacity to represent the county as its senator.
“Believe in me because I have a vision and your interests at heart. I will deliver what you expect of me for I stand for good leadership. I have a great plans for the people of Baringo,” Mr Kiptoo said.
“As the nominations approach, we know the party is prepared in whatever method it will use – be it the ballot or electronic voting,” he said.
He told the would-be voters that he is the best person to succeed Cheptumo, adding that he would ensure Baringo gets enough resources to overcome its myriad challenges, including poor roads, dilapidated hospitals and the perennial insecurity.
The other person who has declared interest in the Baringo Senate seat is Mr Benjamin Chebon. Unlike the others, he has taken the independent route.
The by-elections will decide local representation and signal the relative vitality of the competing political parties ahead of the broader realignments witnessed before General Elections.
Even before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officially announces the start of campaigns, key parties in the broad-based government are in talks on how to carry themselves without undermining their relationship.
ODM, the UDA and Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) have been holding talks to support one candidate and lock other out other parties eyeing the Magarini seat in Kilifi County.
With ODM settling on Mr Kombe and PAA hopeful Michael Kingi nominated as commissioner at Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC), the Saturday Nation has learnt that UDA aspirant Stanley Kenga might be given a lucrative government position to drop his ambition of becoming the area MP.
PAA has already closed his office in Magarini. The party wanted to use the office to coordinate its activities ahead of the by-election after Mr Kingi – the brother of Senate Speaker and former Kilifi governor Amason Kingi – had initially declined the SRC job.
Last month, UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar said the ruling party would field candidates for the 23 by-elections.
The nomination of Mr Kingi as SRC commissioner confirmed earlier reports that the three parties were working together to frustrate former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) aspirant Furaha Ngumbao who is already on the ground expecting to give the two giant outfits a run for their money.
“DCP is barely four months old but I will be on the ground. I am not be intimidated by other parties. What I know is that Magarini people will elect leaders, not the popularity of a candidate’s party,” Mr Ngumbao said.
The politician added that he intends to launch his manifesto officially on October 8, when he will be launching his campaigns.
“I am coordinating with grassroots leaders before the campaign period is announced by the electoral commission. I am confident that I will emerge victorious. Magarini residents are tired of recycling leaders,” Mr Ngumbao said.
Others in the Magarini race are Mr Samuel Nzai of Wiper Party who served as finance executive member of Kilifi County during Mr Kingi’s time as governor, while Mr Karisa Hamad Chadi will vie on Roots Party ticket.
Mr Kombe lost the seat in May last year when the Supreme Court upheld a High court ruling that cited anomalies during the Magarini seat election in 2022.
