A section of aspirants in Kilifi County has strongly disagreed with ODM Leader Raila Odinga over what methods they will use to find the party’s candidates.
The Raila Odinga-led party had slated the party primaries for Kilifi and Mombasa to take place on Monday, April 5, and Tuesday, April 6 respectively.
However, on Sunday, April 4, the National Elections Board of the party announced that it had adjourned its party primaries to enable the conclusion of the ongoing consultations and consensus-building.
“The National Elections Board will communicate the outcome of the consultations and consensus-building and advice on the next steps,” the party said.
However, on Wednesday, April 6, ODM aspirant’s majority of who were members of the County Assembly (MCAs) failed to reach a consensus and is now pushing for universal suffrage to pick party flag bearers.
The aspirants from Malindi town, Shela, and Ganda wards said they have heavily invested in the campaigns and they are optimistic they would win in the primaries and are opposed to the issuance of direct tickets to some hopefuls.
In an Interview with KTN News on Wednesday, April 6, ODM acting chairperson Nickson Mramba said he will write to the ODM headquarters in Nairobi to allow the party use other methods prescribe in the constitution to find the best candidates.
“Tumekuwa na kikao nao na tumepa muda wakajadiliana wenyewe pamoja na supporters’ wao lakini wakakosa kuelewana ni nani atawachia mtu mwingine. Kwa hivyo mimi nitatengeza ripoti yangu iende kwa Orange house na chama chenyewe kitaona ni nia gani ambayo watatumia mpaka tupate the best candidates,” Mrama said.
Loosely translated to: “We have had a meeting with them and given them time to negotiate with their supporters but they could not reach a consensus on who would fly the ODM flag. So I will submit my report to Orange House and the party itself will see what method the party will use to get the best candidates.”
