NAIROBI-KENYA :ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT SETS THE DATES FOR ELECTIONS

13.01.2011

The Orange Democratic Movement Party of Kenya-ODM will hold its grassroots elections from Saturday the 5^th to Wednesday 9^th of March 2011.

This was arrived at today during a meeting between the Party Leader Mr. Raila Odinga and members of the party’s National Elections Board at the Party Headquarters at the Orange House in Nairobi.

During the meeting, Mr. Odinga who is the country’s Prime Minister said ODM should spread its wings into all the Counties of Kenya irrespective of where it has support or not.

He said, the forthcoming grassroots elections will be used to gauge the true ODM members and supporters adding that as party that started as a mass movement then into transition, ODM must now constitute itself into a strong, formidable and popular political party in Kenya.

Mr. Odinga called for an end to political feuds within the Party Branches saying that impacts negatively on the party. The Party Leader said ODM needs to adhere fully with the Political Parties Act and take advantage of the goodwill it has amongst the people of Kenya. “The era of small parties is gone with the political parties act in place and now we have to recruit more and more members to the party”, he said.

The Prime Minister said ODM should lead from the front and give itself a National face adding by 2012, it should have prepared fully for the battle.

He told party members of parliament and ordinary members to be loyal to the party saying it was practice world-over. He gave examples of big political parties in the World  like the Labour, Liberal, Conservative parties of the UK, Democratic and Republican Parties of the US and ANC of South Africa which he said are examples of political parties that have loyal members.

Mr. Odinga said the Party was in the process of indentifying strong and people of high integrity persons to vie for Senate and Governorship in 2012 on the party ticket. He asked the National Elections Board to carefully vet candidates for various elective seats planning to run on ODM ticket. “We should get rid of moles and those people send to interfere with our nominations’ exercise”, he said.

The meeting also resolved that the Party will hold its National Delegates Conference from Friday 8^th to Saturday 9^th April 2011. Deputy Party Leader Mr. Musalia Mudavadi said the grassroots elections and the National Delegates Conference will be used to elect party officials with the aim of strengthening the party.

Mr. Mudavadi said the National Delegates Conference will be held in accordance with the requirements of the political parties act. “This will not be an exercise will not about 2012 Presidential Elections but just normal party elections” he added saying that “a date for the nomination of the party’s flagbearer for 2012 will be called at an appropriate time”.

During the meeting, the Party approved nine candidates nominated to run for the nine vacant Civic Seats across the country in the February 16^th 2010 by-elections in ten Civic Wards across the country.

The party candidates are as follows:

1.     Mr. Shadrack Nyiro Charo - Roka Ward in Bahari Constituency

2.     Mr. Dominic Onyiengo Obangi – Bogeka Ward in  Kitutu Chache Constituency

3.     Mr. Enos Nyangwala Odingo – Rusinga East in Mbita Constituency

4.     Mr. Richard Okeyo Onyango – Gembe Central in Mbita Constituency

5.     Mr. Hezbon Omondi – Komarock Ward in Embakasi Constituency

6.     Mr. Davis Gitobu M’Ndegwa – Kirimara Ward in Imenti North Constituency

7.     Mr. Abdallah Alii Mrusi – Kikoneni Ward in Msambweni Constituency

8.     Mr. Frederick Kalowe Tomoi – Akoret Ward in Baringo East Constituency

9.     Mr. Peter Dzungu Mangale – Mwaluphamba Ward in Matuga Constituency

Present were the Chairman of the National Elections Board of the party Eng. Philip Okundi, Secretary to the Board Dr. Joseph Misoi and other board members.

Ends……

Philip Etale

Director of Communications-ODM