Mbadi to ODM aspirants: Stay home, continue campaigning, stop looking for direct tickets

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) National Chairperson John Mbadi has dismissed claims that the party’s nomination process is confusing to its members and supporters.

His sentiments come after Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma, who is affiliated to the party, on Monday alleged that there was confusion as to how the party will conduct the nomination process in Nyanza, which he says has spawned hostility among aspirants and supporters.

According to Mbadi, who was speaking on Citizen TV’s NewsNight show on Tuesday, the party’s nomination process is quite straightforward and persons saying otherwise are only nervous about the process because they are seeking direct nominations.

“What I see is just panic by candidates and it is very normal at this time especially when the party is strong, sometimes you find Members of Parliament are looking for certificates yet we have not issued any certificate,” said Mbadi.

While admitting that the Raila Odinga-led outfit has had some problems with its nomination process in past elections, Mbadi stated that ODM specifically formed a task force led by the party’s National Elections Board (NEB) Chair Catherine Mumma to streamline the entire process.

“There are instances where we had people coming to Nairobi to look for certificates and they think that tradition is still there now, I want to give confidence to our people that you would rather just stay back home,” the Suba North legislator said.

“If we have not conducted nominations in your electoral area kindly just stay around your area, continue with your campaigns and take communications from the board as the truth and stop looking around for certificates that are not even there.”

Even in the event that ODM offers direct nominations to candidates, the party according to Mbadi does not do so haphazardly but instead follows a stipulated methodology.

“In order to get to consensus, the party first conducts at least two scientific polls and based on that there is the rule of thumb. The margin we have been given is plus or minus three per cent but we were told 6 per cent and above should be enough,” he said.

“As a rule of thumb we if number 1 and 2 are separated by 10 per cent we subject you to universal suffrage, if it is 10 per cent and above then we start process of consensus building and possibly the issuance of direct tickets and this is going on.”