ODM sets new date for election of officials in Kakamega amid intense rivalry

ODM Party has set a new date for election of its officials in Kakamega County after the earlier planned polls for county chair grassroots election failed to kick off over disagreements on the voting method amid fears of cracks that threaten to split the party into two factions.

The party has announced Monday, September 1st, as the election day.

The election, which was to happen on Monday but failed to kick off after delegates allied to Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa is the current ODM County Chairman, and those of Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera failed to agree on whether to use the open voting method or a secret ballot method.

While speaking in Lugari during the opening of Marukusi Health Centre and Lumakanda Road Barasa  accused his opponent of being used by his opponents to kill ODM in Kakamega County to pave a way for a new party.

"I am ready for the election, and I welcome the date set by our party for a new election on Monday. I urge all delegates to come out in large numbers and show traitors that the ODM party needs loyalty and not traitors who are on a mission to kill the party," said Barasa.

He added, "I want to assure our party leader, Raila Odinga, that the party is strong and I will keep it vibrant and strong. I have opened branch offices across the 12 sub-counties to give the party visibility, and we want our opponents to show the ODM fraternity their contribution for being in the party for over 20 years."

The governor accused his opponent of disrupting the election by demanding a secret ballot as a way of voting after sensing a defeat.

"We must follow the party constitution, the party has announced that the election should be conducted through two methods, consensus and by show of hands and yet my opponent is calling for a secret ballot when we don't have ballot boxes," said Barasa.

He added, "I want to urge my party to bring a neutral returning officer; we don't want a person who is biased, and he cannot have a stand to decide what to be done, especially on whether to adopt the use of a show of hands or consensus as a voting method."

Deputy Governor Ayub Savula urged MP Nabwera to concentrate on his mandate as a lawmaker, stating that the seat requires someone who can serve the entire county.

"Nabii has no political muscles, network, and capacity to manage affairs of the party in the entire county. We want to tell the MP to focus on development in his constituency because the person who deserves this position is the governor, and we are behind him," said Savula.

On Monday, Barasa insisted that he is still the ODM County chair until a fresh election is held.

However, on Tuesday, Nabii, while in the company of a section of MPs in Khwisero, said he is ready for the election, accusing Barasa of sabotaging the election, and declared himself as the new chairman until fresh polls are held.

"I am ready for the election anytime anyway, and I am confident in winning. The election was bungled by our governor, who feared losing the seat. We want to use a secret ballot as a way of voting," said Nabii.

Nabii has been accused by ODM insiders of enjoying support from former Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

“I am seeking this position so I can unite the people of Kakamega county in one voice in this party,” Nabwera said.

The rift deepened recently when Nabwera and several Kakamega MPs skipped a delegates’ meeting attended by Raila Odinga, only to show up the next day at an event organised by Oparanya.

"Nabii has never missed attending the Speaker's function similar to that organised by CS Oparanya; it is clear he is a man on a mission. He missed a party event attended by our party leader, but he came from nowhere to vie for the County chairmanship position. They are afraid of the party’s popularity in Kakamega under the stewardship of Governor Barasa, and they are trying to downsize the governor," a delegate pointed out.

Oparanya, who has clashed with Barasa, is said to be positioning himself for a new political vehicle or alliance with Wetang’ula, with Barasa viewed as a stumbling block.

Barasa was first elected county chair in 2023 in a contested process.