The ODM party has asked former premier Raila Odinga and businessman Jimmy Wanjigi to pay KSh 1 million presidential nomination fee even as the politician complains the party is trying to frustrate his presidential dream.
The opposition party in a statement issued on Tuesday, February 22, said that it will open its application portal next week giving a green light to those who have not applied to carry the party’s presidential flag.
“The National Elections Board (NEB) wishes to inform all aspirants that the application portal for the party will be ready within this week. The aspirants are reminded to read all applicable laws and rules and prepare to submit their applications as shall be guided,” the party said.
In December 2021, ODM director of elections Junet Mohammed revealed that party leader Raila Odinga and Jimmy Wanjigi had not paid the KSh 1 million presidential nomination fee.
Junet, who is also the Suna East Member of Parliament, said only Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho and his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Oparanya had applied for the ODM presidential nomination.
“I am not aware that he (Jimmy Wanjigi) is running on our party, I am hearing from you for the first time. The people that I know have shown interest and paid the nomination fees are (Hassan) Joho and (Wycliffe) Oparanya,” Junet said.
Mohammed further detailed that the ODM elections board is considering using a consensus method to settle on their presidential flag bearer for the 2022 polls.
“The elections board is coming up with a mechanism; consensus is part of our mechanism to sort out nomination issues. So the elections board will deal with that matter, in the course of next month they will agree on the way forward,” he said.
But the move to open application portal appears to be a win big for DOM presidential ticket contender Jimmy Wanjigi as it signals that the opposition party would conduct nominations as it seeks to find its flag bearer who would compete with Deputy President William Ruto in the August 9, elections.
