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Kenya: ODM Makes U-Turn on Opinion Polls, Reverts to Primaries to Pick Candidates

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4 years ago

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Nairobi — The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will hold its party primaries between April 1 and April 21, 2022, the party has announced.

In a statement, ODM’s National Elections Board (NEB) Chairperson Catherine Muma stated that the Raila Odinga-led party will conduct the nominations through universal suffrage with registered party members allowed to participate in their respective electoral areas.

The announcement marked a deviation from an earlier position held by the party that indicated candidates would be handed direct tickets based on their performance in opinion polls commissioned by Chungwa House.

According to the released schedule, the party primaries will be conducted in various counties where the party has received eligible candidates seeking to vie for various elective seats.

Nakuru and Turkana counties will open the exercise on April 1 followed by Narok and Kajiado on April 2, Kilifi and Tana River on April 4.

On April 5, the party’s NEB will be in Taita Taveta and Kwale, Mombasa on April 6, as well as Kisii and Nyamira on April 7.

Vihiga and Busia will hold primaries on April 12, Kisumu (April 13), Siaya (April 14), Bungoma and Trans Nzoia (April 15), Migori (April 16), Homa Bay (April 18) and Kakamega (April 19).

The exercise will be concluded in Nairobi on April 21.

Muma said vetting of the applications for various elective positions is almost being concluded with the list of eligible candidates set to be made public on the party’s website.

In January, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna had indicated the party will only resort to primaries as the last option where candidates fail to reach consensus.