Kisumu Governor Prof Peter Anyang Nyongo, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna going for the Nairobi senate seat and Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati eyeing the Kisii gubernatorial position will be handed a direct by the orange party.
This is according to reports from Chungwa House in Nairobi.
ODM had earlier informed its supporters across the country it is conducting countrywide research and scientific survey to determine the popularity of candidates seeking its ticket, from MCA to Governor’s level, and will use the survey to issue direct nomination in some places.
In Kisii, Simba Arati is the most popular gubernatorial candidate and the ODM elections board has resolved to hand him the party’s ticket, something that prompted his main challenger Prof Sam Ongeri to decamp from ODM to DAP-Kenya earlier this week.
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In February, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) delegates unanimously endorsed Governor Anyang Nyong’o for a second term. Delegates from seven sub-counties in the region held a convention in Kisumu on 21st February where they hailed Nyongo’s progressive agenda that they say has seen development in Kisumu City.
On the other hand, ODM Secretary-General is said to be another ODM aspirant likely to be handed a direct in the Nairobi senatorial race. He faces no stiff competition and has no opponents in ODM seeking the same seat.
However, in places where candidates have refused to agree and are in a neck-to-neck race, ODM will conduct party primaries decided by the people.
One of such examples is the Homabay gubernatorial race where the party’s survey indicates Oyugi Magwanga as the leading aspirant with 23.6 percent, followed closely by Woman Rep Gladys Wanga at 20.4 percent, Isaiah Ogwe is third with 20.1 percent while former Nairobi governor Dr. Evans Kidero has 13.5 percent.
