ODM nullifies Embakasi West grassroots elections, orders repeat in Nyakach

The Orange Democratic Movement has nullified grassroots elections in Embakasi West Constituency and ordered a fresh poll in the Nyakach branch, citing external interference in the electoral process.

In a statement on April 2, the party’s Central Management Committee ratified a proposal by its election body to invalidate the results of the November 27, 2024, elections in Embakasi West.

“Elections in Embakasi West Constituency were nullified due to external interference,” ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna announced.

The committee, which convened to review electoral appeals, revealed that only nine out of the 43 appeals submitted met the threshold for consideration.

As a result, fresh elections will be conducted in the Nyakach branch and four wards in Nyando constituency, Kisumu.

Additionally, elections in Dagoretti North, Dagoretti South, Embakasi West, Kwale, and Taita Taveta Matayos have been suspended pending the resolution of outstanding disputes.

ODM reaffirmed its commitment to a fair and transparent electoral process, urging party members to uphold due process.

The party also announced upcoming harmonisation exercises in select areas ahead of the next phase of elections scheduled for April 7 and 9, 2025.

This next phase will focus on sub-branch (ward) elections, where only delegates previously elected at the polling unit level will participate.

These elections will determine representatives advancing to the branch (constituency) level polls set for April 9, 2025.

Emily Awita, Chairperson of the National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC), expressed confidence in the party’s preparedness.

"We are very ready for the exercise. It is all systems go, and we expect the exercise to run smoothly," Awita stated on April 1.

To ensure the integrity of the elections, the NECC secretariat has coordinated with security agencies and school management teams to secure polling venues.

Returning Officers have been deployed to all 290 constituencies, and Presiding Officers have been assigned to each ward.

ODM is seeking to use the grassroots polls to strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 polls.