ODM candidates in Mombasa want party primaries repeated

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is facing a backlash in Mombasa County for conducting primaries which were marred with irregularities on Saturday.

Questions have, however, emerged on the authenticity of the polls and the concerned aggrieved candidates have dismissed them and are demanding that primaries be repeated again.

Led by their Chaani ward MCA candidate Franklin Makanga, the ODM die-hard from Changamwe Constituency held a demonstration to protest the outcome of the Saturday polls citing displeasure within the Raila-led party and has asked the leader to walk the democracy talk he champions by ensuring the party listens to their grievances on a repeat of free and fair nominations.

While addressing the media during the protest Franklin Maknga accused the ODM official of rigging him through the manipulation of the voting gadgets and attack of his supporters hired goons who disrupted the nominations of his strong holds where he was leading.

“We are disputing the outcome of the nominations which were computer generated after they realized we were leading in the primaries in my two strongholds which are the largest centers in Chaani ward,” said Makanga.

He also condemned the attacks which were meted out to his supporters where he alleged women were beaten and stripped naked by goons hired by his opponent.

“We are sending an appeal message to the ODM leader Raila Odinga to intervene and call for a repeat of polls failure to which we will be forced to decamp from the party and vie for the MCS seat as an independent candidate said,” Makanga.

Addressing the same forum, Jane Nzila who is an ODM grass root woman leader is demanding for ODM candidate Franklin Makanga to be issued with the ODM ticket because he won the primaries.

“We as Chaani residents voted unanimously for our preferred candidate Franklin Maknga who won in the primaries, we are demanding the ODM office to issue him the certificate and we are tired of micromanagement of ODM affairs in Mombasa County and imposing leaders on us ,”said Jane.

Kasiva Josphat, who was an agent to Maknga says the primaries were marred with a lot of irregularities and disapproved of its authenticity.

“The primaries were not free and fair because as agents at polling stations we were not allowed to verify and sign the voting tally as per law, after protesting I was beaten and stripped at the polling station by my opponent supporters,” Josphat said.

The aggrieved members have given the ODM party 2 days period to address their grievances and call for a nomination repeat failure to which they will be forced to decamp and vie as independent candidates for the August polls.