ODM delegates at MaryCliff Primary School in Tudor, Mombasa County, celebrate after 'electing' Tobias Samba as their chairman. There was no actual voting but the delegates unanimously picked him unopposed in the ODM grassroots elections.
Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has described its low-key grassroots elections conducted on Wednesday as smooth and successful.
The party’s National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) Chairperson Emily Awita said that the exercise went on as planned in more than 98 percent of all the polling stations spread across the 47 counties.
The committee said it has since received results from 25 counties with the remaining 22 ongoing with filing the outcome of the elections. This even as the office revealed that most members resorted to consensus in picking their officials.
ODM party elections at Komuok Polling Station in Gem on November 27, 2024
Mandera, Mombasa, Lamu, wajir, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma, Kilifi, Siaya, Homabay, Busia, Kisumu, Taita Taveta, Kirinyaga, Embu, Nyeri, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Bungoma, Bomet, Nakuru, Marsabit, Kwale, West Pokot and Garissa are among counties that have filed their results with the national office.
The much-anticipated elections turned into a low-key exercise characterised by low turnouts and prolonged delays.
“We are pleased to report that the exercise went on smoothly in more than 98 percent of the polling units. Voting was by registered members only,” said Ms Awita on Thursday.
The Raila Odinga-led party explained that its elections and nominations rules provide for election by way of consensus – where members and candidates sit down and agree on the distribution of positions.
In the event there is a disagreement on consensus method, members vote by show of hands.
“Presiding Officers at every polling unit took the members and candidates through the process and in most cases, members resolved to go the consensus way. In other places, members resolved to vote by show of hands.
Cases of violence
By and large, the exercise was successful save for a few polling units where cases of violence and disruption were reported,” she said.
In the elections at the polling station level, party members elected a total of 30 officials. They include Mainstream (10), Youth League (10) and Women League (10). ODM has four tiers of delegates, drawn from the polling station, ward, constituency and county levels.
The committee announced that the party would soon launch investigations in areas where violence and disruption were witnessed and take necessary action on those involved.
In Siaya, at least two people were injured and rushed to hospital after chaos erupted during the elections in Yala, Siaya County. The duo was roughed up by angry party members at Muhanad Polling station for allegedly dressing in black outfits and storming the centre.
According to Gem sub-County Commander Charles Wafula, the two were rescued by police officers from the wrath of the irate mob and taken to Yala sub-County Hospital.
ODM party has two different offices in Gem Constituency; one allied to the current MP Elisha Odhiambo and the other to former North Gem MCA, Nick Ochola.
Party elections have in the past turned divisive and chaotic resulting in major fallouts, a scenario that has made many outfits in the country to avoid holding party elections or resort to consensus.
An attempt by Mr Odinga in 2014 to hold party elections at Kasarani national stadium aborted after a group of youth dressed in black, famously known as men in black, stormed the venue and bungled the exercise.
However, it later emerged that the youths were hired by some senior party officials to avert what was claimed as an attempt by some external forces to take over the party by planting their proxies in key positions.
In Jubilee, Mr Kenyatta declined to call for party elections even as his then deputy sustained pressure for party members to participate in electing officials.
The outfit that was formed in the run-up to the 2017 General Election installed interim officials with plans to have elections within three years.
But Mr Kenyatta refused to call the polls after it emerged that Dr Ruto was plotting a takeover of the party in preparation for his 2022 presidential bid.
Mr Kenyatta would later, after kicking out President Ruto’s sympathisers, hold the party National Delegates Conference (NDC) where his allies were installed in key party positions. Jeremiah Kioni was picked to replace Raphael Tuju as the party secretary-general.
