A group of aspirants eyeing the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket for upcoming by-elections have accused party officials of tilting the playing field in favour of preferred candidates.
The politicians, drawn from Kasipul and Ugunja constituencies, claimed that both local and national ODM leaders had already thrown their weight behind certain contenders. They warned that such actions threatened to undermine confidence in the party’s nomination process.
“We have some individuals in the same party who are now misbehaving and they may interfere with the strength and integrity of our political party,” the aspirants said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
One example cited was Kasipul’s ODM chairman, whom the aspirants accused of openly campaigning for a candidate. “He is saying we are done with nominations and are waiting for 2027,” they alleged.
The grievances surfaced shortly after a meeting in Nairobi chaired by ODM National Elections Board chairperson Emily Awita. The session was meant to iron out rules for next week’s primaries, which will be conducted by secret ballot between September 24 and 27.
“What ODM should give to people who love the party is a free, fair and credible by-election for Kasipul,” the aspirants insisted.
The stakes are high in both constituencies. In Kasipul, five candidates — George Otieno, known locally as Ajo Mbuta, Okindo Majiwa, Ottoman Adele, Boyd Were and Newton Ogada — are vying for the ODM ticket following the death of MP Charles Ong’ondo in April.
In Ugunja, three hopefuls — Fredrick Owino, Moses Omondi and Joseph Alur — are battling for the chance to replace Opiyo Wandayi, who vacated the parliamentary seat last year after being appointed to the Executive.
The by-elections are expected to test ODM’s internal democracy at a delicate moment for the party, as it juggles succession debates and its long-standing dominance in western Kenya.
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