ODM party grassroots elections on Wednesday started with a slow start with short queues witnessed across the polling stations including the party’s traditional bases.
Despite making spirited calls for huge turnout during the one-day exercise, the party’s bastions reported a handful of supporters coming out to vote raising concerns about the dwindling enthusiasm in the 19-year-old party.
This is the first time the Orange party is holding elections without its founding party leader Raila Odinga who is Kenya’s candidate for the African Union Commission chairperson.
The grassroots election billed as the bellwether for the revitalisation plans ahead of the upcoming 2027 elections, failed completely to take place in some places.
A spot check by the Star across the 47 counties revealed low participation with supporters keeping off the exercise, a departure from the past polls when the exercise was a matter of life and death.
There was however cases of chaos in some areas where rival camps clashed throwing the exercise into confusion.
In Rongo, Migori county, there was a confrontation after two rival camps clashed at the party headquarters over how to proceed with the exercise.
Some members questioned the involvement of their MP Paul Abuor in the party activity.
The lawmaker had been in the bad books of the party following his decision to support President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration immediately after 2022 general election.
But addressing the press in Rongo, Abuor brushed off the allegations accusing critics of fearing competition.
“Elections are always competitive and when people are competing there are chances that they will not agree on some issues. It is normal,” Abuor said.
While voting at Loresho Primary School in Nairobi, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna urged party voters to elect loyal members for the 30 slots that are up for grabs.
“When elections are announced we are all members, we know the loyal members of ODM and those who have no stand, even the Bible supports that those who are not strong in faith should be made overseers,” Sifuna said.
A close contest was expected in Nairobi where the delegates are torn between Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi and his Makadara counterpart George Aladwa.
“I have served in the last 11 years as a chairman in the ODM party and we have maintained a solid control of the city politics. That is the direction we need to take,” Aladwa said ahead of the polls.
In Mombasa, only a handful turned out to elect the grassroots officials and in some polling stations like Liwa La Ng’ombe Primary School, Nyali constituency nothing was ongoing.
Not even election officials had reported by 11am for the exercise that was to start from 8am.
Patricia Nzioka who is eyeing Mombasa County deputy chairperson in the ongoing elections, blamed National Elections Coordinating Committee for bungling the process.
“Many people who had turned up
by 8am have been forced to go back
home. An official confirmed to me
through Whatsapp voice note that
the process would start from 8am,”
Nzioka told journalists.
