The ODM party has shortlisted former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s daughter Winnie Odinga for nomination to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
The party said its selection committee led by deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya met on Tuesday, November 10, and came up with the names of the six.
Her nomination elicited sharp reactions even as the 32-year-old insisted that she was not interested in the Arusha-based lucrative seat.
Commenting on her nomination, Political analyst Ahmed Hashi said that by appointing Raila’s last-born daughter to EALA, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party presidential candidate Raila Odinga was training her daughter for national politics.
“By appointing their children to EALA as a training ground for them to enter national politics,” Hashi said in an interview with KTN News.
Hashi, who is also a governance expert argued further argued that just like Raila’s failed presidential dreams, the move to groom her daughter for national politics might kill Raila’s daughter if she officially enters Kenya’s politics thereafter.
“They (Azimio la Umoja) got trounced on this dynasty thing and it sends a bad message,” he added.
Winnie Odinga, who applied for the East Africa-based parliament is expected to battle it out with Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal, former Kitutu Masaba MP, and the party’s National Treasurer Timothy Bosire.
Others eying the lucrative seat include former Turkana Water and Irrigation CEC Beatrice Askul, former Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito, and Mohammed Diriye (Wajir).
Kenya has nine seats up for grabs at the East African Legislative Assembly.
Five of the nine will go to the Kenya Kwanza coalition while four will go to the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party.
From the four ODM is expected to have two seats while other affiliate parties; Jubilee and Wiper will each get a seat.