LIST OF CANDIDATES GIVEN DIRECT TICKET BY ODM

Deep-rooted animosity among ODM aspirants over thorny party nominations could hurt party leader Raila Odinga’s bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The party’s decision to give direct tickets to some aspirants in certain regions has jolted and angered a number of influential and seasoned politicians.

Awarding direct tickets instead of holding primaries and letting party members pick candidates has triggered a storm that could undermine Raila’s chances.

The problem has been compounded by revelations that issuing direct tickets is determined by a number of factors, including gender and party loyalty, not related to popularity.

The Star has established that anxiety among aspirants in Mombasa — seen as one of ODM’s political bastions — is reaching a crescendo.

It is said the party is completing plans to issue direct tickets and who will get them.

The Mombasa gubernatorial seat, for instance, is fiercely fought between businessman Suleiman Shahbal and Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir.

On Thursday, a group of pro-ODM youth in Kisii took to the streets to protest the party’s decision to hand a direct ticket to Woman Representative Janet Ongera.

Ongera is a former long-serving ODM executive director and is among the top ODM loyalists.

In Rift Valley and Northeastern, there will be no primaries as the party intends to use consensus to select candidates.

The party’s nightmare could be in Nyanza — Raila’s traditional bedrock where sources say the party intends to issue direct tickets to gubernatorial contenders in all counties.

Already, Homa Bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga has been issued a direct ticket, triggering a storm.

Analysts say direct tickets could cause voter apathy on August 9 as local competition can generate high voter turnout.

Political observers Herman Manyora and Gabriel Muthuma said growing displeasure of the aspirants could cause disillusioned voters to stay home. That would hurt Raila’s bid.

“Certainly, there are people who may opt to stay home and decide not to vote on August 9 [because the people they support are not on the ballot],” Manyora said.

The University of Nairobi don said though most parties, just like ODM, have adopted consensus, that route may depict the parties as undemocratic and insensitive to the people’s wishes in some regions.

“The biggest thing is the picture and the image they are portraying out there. They are saying ODM [leaders] are people who do not respect democracy or do not want to allow people within the party to participate freely,” he said.

Analyst Muthuma said, “What is happening will affect Raila by far [the most]. He is the leader of ODM and he takes the highest heat for anything that happens within the party that signals discontent.”

ODM national chairman John Mbadi concurred. He bolted from the Homa Bay race after Wanga got the ticket.

He said his party boss needs “everyone” to mobilise for his election, especially at the grassroots, and ensure maximum voter turnout.

“I say it is true it can affect us because Raila needs all members of ODM to mobilise our supporters to vote,” Mbadi told the Star.

Citing Homa Bay, Mbadi said the party is not necessarily picking candidates based on their popularity, but considering other factors, including gender.

Courtesy