Written By Ramadhan Kambi 📝
Some Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members in Kaloleni constituency want the party to go for nominations for the candidates.
They have opposed the alleged plan by the party to issue a direct nomination ticket to one of the aspirants seeking the parliamentary seat.
The members held a peaceful demonstration in Kaloleni town protesting against such a move ahead of the nomination date scheduled for next Tuesday.
Carrying placards marked ‘We want free and fair nominations in Kaloleni’ ‘Tunataka mchujo wa huru na haki Kaloleni ‘they marched along the Kaloleni matatu stage area and told the party to ensure there are nominations or else they would not vote for the ODM candidate.
Led by the ODM Vice Chairman in Kaloleni Sub County Francis Dena, they said it would be unfair if the party resorts to giving a direct to issuing a direct ticket to one candidate against the wish of the people.
Those eying for the parliamentary seat in an ODM ticket include the Incumbent Paul Katana who is alleged to be the one set to be given the direct ticket while the others are Winnie Chivila and Masha Kenga.
Reports indicate that Chivila and Kenga are ready for the nomination exercise on Monday but Katana wants to be given a direct ticket.
Dena said they have been hearing reports that there were plans to give direct nominations and cautioned the party against going that route as it would have negative repercussions.
“We joined ODM Voluntarily and we will vote for ODM voluntarily but the elections are going to cost others in Kaloleni,” he said.
He said Kaloleni constituency if an ODM zone but they do not want people from outside to dictate who to nominate as their candidate for the parliamentary seat.
Dena told ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga and ODM Party Chairman Edwin Sifuna that they are aware of the plans going on in Nairobi regarding the Kaloleni nominations to issue a direct ticket but warned that the decision lies with the people.
“Stay in Nairobi and do all you are doing but know that the people are the ones who will decide who shall be their Member of parliament, I personally and my people will not accept a shortcut to impose a candidate on behalf of the people,” he said.
He said they are not ready for direct nominations and want to go for nominations so as to elect the leader they want to represent them.
Ayub Mohamed a member of ODM in Kaloleni constituency for the last 30 years said urged the party not to issue a direct nomination ticket to any candidate as they want nomination to choose the candidate they want.
He said they do not want a leader chosen by the party officials but by the people as they are tired of being given candidates who are not development-oriented.
“We are getting reports that in Nairobi there are plans going on to give the ticket to leaders who have failed in Kaloleni we want to go for nominations to choose the leader we want,” he said.
Mohamed said if the party will go-ahead to issue a direct ticket, then they are going to lose the parliamentary seat as it will be against the will of the people.
Mary Joash an ODM member from Kaloleni town said the best option was to go for nomination and not a direct nomination.
She said they want justice and would like to see the nomination exercise taking place next week or else they would reject the imposed candidate.
“If one aspirant is given a direct ticket, we will feel shortchanged as it will be against our will, we want the nominations for us to feel justice done,” she said.
She said the ODM party will lose its popularity if they do not do nominations in Kaloleni as people will not support the imposed candidate.
Siprose Atieno another ODM Supporter said the party should not come up with a plan to issue a direct nomination certificate.
“People should go to the ground as said for people to go for the nomination it would not be fair for one to spend resources then the ticket be given to one person,” she said.
Atieno said she would mobilize her people not to go and vote if the ticket would be given directly to one aspirant.
Chivila who is one of the ODM parliamentary aspirantss in Kaloleni said she supports the idea of nomination because the people will be able to practice their democratic rights.
She said out of the three candidates two including her are ready for the nominations and wondered why the third aspirant was panicking.
“We are ready to go for nominations we urge ODM to conduct nominations in a free and fair way whoever is going to win after being nominated by the people of Kaloleni in a justified manner will carry the mantle and we shall support him,” he said.
The oppositions just come barely two days after the ODM national elections board held a meeting with all aspirants in Kilifi ODM offices to sensitize them on the process of nomination.
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