In its concluded retreat held in Mombasa, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) confronted the ghost of bungled nominations, while admitting how the mess had hurt the outfit’s influence in past successive elections.
A closed-door session on Monday offered a platform for top party officials, Governors, and Members of Parliament to pour out their hearts on the perceived dwindling confidence aspirants have in securing the party’s ticket.
Some of the members who plan to defend their seats or run for higher positions on ODM made their demands for a credible party primaries known, forcing the outfit to announce elaborate plans to restore confidence in the exercise.
In its resolutions, ODM issued tough instructions to the National Elections and Coordinating Committee (NECC) to begin putting in place systems that will ensure free and fair party primaries. The party also ruled out the issuance of a direct ticket.
ODM party officials follow proceedings on the second day of the political party's three-day retreat at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa on May 4, 2026.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
“We task the National Elections and Coordinating Committee (formerly the National Elections Board) to device enhanced and fail-proof mechanisms for conducting free, fair, transparent and credible party nominations for all elective positions,” ODM resolved.
An internal audit by the party in 2023 had revealed that the digital voting system deployed by the outfit in the run-up to the 2022 polls was manipulated to hand victory to certain candidates.
The audit showed that the voting gadgets did not have security safeguards to prevent rigging, while some candidates are said to have colluded with party poll officials and took away the gadgets, and proceeded to vote for themselves multiple times.
In the 2022 election, the party also issued direct tickets, especially in Nyanza, Western and Coast. It is not the first time the outfit has questioned its internal systems in the running of party primaries.
Former elections board chairperson Catherine Mumma (now a nominated senator) was brought in after the 2017 polls to clean up the mess in the party primaries.
It was after the party formed a five-member team that comprised Ms Mumma, Prof Lawrence Gumbe, Alfelt Mumbo, Abio Gunda and Irshad Sumra to review the previous election cycle and provide a path for more credible party primaries.
The team in its report said the past party primaries did not meet the threshold of free and credible nominations. Ms Emily Awita currently chairs the election team.
ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga admitted that party nominations have remained a major concern among aspirants. The county boss disclosed that the outfit was pulling all the stops to ensure aspirants have a fair chance to clinch the party ticket.
ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga speaks to the media on the second day of the political party's three-day retreat at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort in Mombasa on May 4, 2026.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
“The elections team is under firm instruction to come up with a system that will ensure a credible process. We want a system that will re-assure our aspirants that they have a fair chance in the party.”
“The party is committed to win trust by demonstrating a clear break from past practices. Some of the plans we have in place include strengthening of the National Elections Coordinating Committee by ensuring it is independent, impartial and professional,” said Ms Wanga.
She disclosed that part of the broader plan in safeguarding party primaries will include deployment of “a verifiable, digital party register for the voter roll and ensuring transparent vote counting.”
“We will also put in place a credible and fast dispute resolution mechanism, where grievances are heard and determined before nominations are finalized,” she explained.
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita said that in the absence of the founding party leader, Raila Odinga, it is only through a credible nomination that the party would retain its influence. He said ODM has to conduct credible party primaries for it to remain competitive nationally.
“The only lifeline for the party in the 2027 elections is a free, fair and credible nominations,” said Mr Nyamita, adding that, “It is something the party has to invest in for survival.”
Uriri MP Mark Nyamita.
Photo credit: Pool
The lawmaker, who has declared interest in the Migori governor seat on ODM, said the outfit has to start working on putting in place a system that will assure all aspirants of a fair process.
“The biggest task for the party is to build trust that all aspirants seeking the party ticket have a chance to compete fairly. I can tell you that in the absence of Raila, it is only through a credible nomination that the party will remain relevant,” said the lawmaker.
Fears of bungled nominations have been at the heart of the controversial push for zoning of ODM zones.
It has become a major talking point, especially in Nyanza, with locals openly opposed to it. Locals see it as a scheme to protect some sitting MPs, seen to be loyal to the current leadership of the party.
But the party has assured the aspirants of a credible process, while at the same time tasked both the elections committee and the secretariat to start scouting for candidates across the country.
Following the Mombasa retreat, the party tasked the secretariat “to deploy and enable all regions to pick teams to scout, identify interested candidates willing to contest on the ODM ticket for all elective positions based on their ideals in relation to what ODM believes.”
The elections team was also tasked to reexamine and devise means and ways for identifying candidates for the nomination slots in Parliament and county assemblies.
The secretariat was further mandated to come up with ways and means to review and revamp the youth and women leagues.
This move is intended to develop a generational and gender mix when electing leadership of the party by ensuring both youth and women are involved at all levels.
“We task the party secretariat to device enhanced mechanisms for involving the lowest ranks of the party in the management of all elections involving our candidates, including the identification of agents and deployment of appropriate funding for the same,” said ODM.
