The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has invited applications from aspirants seeking its ticket for the 2027 polls, a strategy insiders said is designed to gauge its strengths and weaknesses ahead of the General Election.
The outfit, the Nation has learnt, is out to establish regions where it still commands influence, based on the aspirants' responses.
It also seeks to establish its political strength in regions that have traditionally backed the outfit in the past elections, but are now seen to be drifting away following the death of former party leader and Prime Minister Raila Odinga .
Traditionally, ODM has, in the last four successive elections, enjoyed massive backing from Nyanza, Western, Coast, Turkana, parts of North Eastern and the Maa community. In the absence of Mr Odinga in 2027, the dynamics are likely to change.
In a notice published in the local dailies, ODM gave those aspiring for President, Governor, Member of the Senate, County Woman Rep, Member of the National Assembly and Member of the County Assembly until June 30 to submit their applications.
ODM supporters during the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Special Delegates Convention at the ASK Dome, Jamhuri Expo Centre in Nairobi on Friday, March 27.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
Unlike the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of President Ruto and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) that are charging registration fees as high as Sh50,000, ODM is not asking for any money.
“Our intention is to map out the regions. The database of the aspirants will help us plan for the 2027 elections. It will be purely for internal use as we will be able to know where the numbers are,” an official told the Nation.
In the notice, the party said, “pursuant to Article 61 (1) of the ODM constitution, as read together with Rule 7(1) and part VIII of the party elections and nomination rules, the National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) hereby invites applications from interested party members seeking to contest in the 2027 General Elections on the ODM party ticket.”
“In order to guarantee a credible process, we urge our party members to continuously engage the National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) for any clarifications.”
The outfit has also made it clear its intention to confront the ghost of bungled nominations, while admitting how the mess has hurt the outfit’s influence in past successive elections.
During the recent Mombasa retreat, ODM instructed its 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.
“We task the National Elections and Coordinating Committee (formerly the National Elections Board) to devise 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.
Ratified ODM leaders Gladys Wanga, Simba Arati, Oburu Odinga and Abdulswamad Nassir during the party's Special Delegates Convention at the A.S.K Dome, Jamhuri Expo Centre in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
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.
ODM chairperson, Gladys Wanga.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
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.
“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 reassure our aspirants that they have a fair chance in the party.”
“The party is committed to winning trust by demonstrating a clear break from past practices. Some of the plans we have in place include strengthening the National Elections Coordinating Committee by ensuring it is independent, impartial and professional,” said Ms Wanga.
Safeguarding party primaries
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 finalised,” 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 nomination process,” said Mr Nyamita, adding that, “It is something the party has to invest in for survival.”
ODM party leader Oburu Oginga during the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Special Delegates Convention at the ASK Dome, Jamhuri Expo Centre in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
“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.
