KILELESHWA WARD MCA and my friend Hon. Robert Alai has declared his candidature for Dagoreti North MP, a seat currently held by Hon. Beatrice Elachi.
The two are members of the ODM Party already holding elective roles.
It is for the party nominating base to decide whether Hon. Alai takes over, or Hon. Elachi stays.
This is positive competition within our party.
We must build ODM as a party where nobody is above electoral challenge.
If we don’t do so, ours will be a party where incumbents rule forever. That’s no longer democracy.
Recent history of our party gives hope. ODM has always been a party built on competitive politics.
I was very happy to be inside that hall at Kasarani, when ‘Men-in-Black’ walked in.
Moments earlier, then Dagoreti North MP Hon. Simba Arati was challenging no less than Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga on the party leadership role itself.
Even Isaac Mwaura briefly sat on the Party Leader’s seat!
ODM has always been a party built on the principle of internal competition. The right of a member to stand for any seat. It is a right enshrined in the ODM constitution.
This is going to be an interesting contest and needless to say, I leave you to guess where I stand!
Dikembe Disembe is a Political Researcher and Writer
