By Habil Onyango
Orange Democratic Movement is likely to face huddles in its ward and Constituency elections in Homa Bay.
This is after e section of leaders raised allegations that the names of the delegates who were elected on November 27,2024 has been manipulated.
The party has scheduled its elections on April 7 and 9 at the ward and Constituency levels respectively.
Led by the Ndhiwa MP Martine Owino and Kasipul hopeful Philip Aroko, they have vowed that the exercise will not take place until the correct list is availed.
In Ndhiwa, the names of the MP who is the current party Patron and the Acting party County Coordinating chairman, Hamilton Orata are missing from the list of those who will participate in the exercise.
Orata had alleged discomfort in the conduct of the ongoing party grassroots elections. Orata, Owino, Senator Moses Kajwang’ and Woman Representative are eyeing the County’s Chairperson positions.
Orata had particularly named Homa Bay Town, Ndhiwa and Kasipul as some of the Constituencies which he had received complaints about the manipulation of the delegates names.
They have accused one of the leaders from the Constituency who holds a major position in the County of interfering with the list in favour of her supporters.
Aroko however has accused the current MP for Kasipul Ong’ondo Were of taking the party as his own personal property accusing him of influencing the list through the party’s National Election Coordinating Committee.
Were has declared his interest in the party’s County Chairman seat position.
“Were has had his time, and by August 2027, he must step aside and no negotiations, no extensions,” he said.
“Leadership is not a birthright, and ODM is not a family heirloom to be passed down like personal property. It belongs to the people, and when leadership fails to meet their expectations, change becomes inevitable,” he said
Aroko said that ODM must reflect the will of the electorate, not serve the selfish ambitions of a select few clinging to power.
“The message is loud and clear: any attempt to manipulate the ODM Party delegates list in Kasipul is dead on arrival,” he said
“We have everything mapped out, and no amount of scheming will alter the course of history,” he stated.
Aroko declared that he is the people’s choice and a steadfast, loyal ODM soldier who has stood with the party since 2013.
“ODM belongs to the people and my quest is unstoppable,” said.
However, according to the County ODM Elections Coordinating Committee Chairperson Mary Opiyo, the electoral process in Homa Bay was conducted in a transparent, free and fair manner in a strict adherence to the guidelines and directives provided by the party’s National Elections’ Committee.
She said that until now, no formal complaints or disputes have been lodged with them or the party NEC regarding the conduct of polling Station elections in conformity with the laid down guidelines and directives.
“Pursuant to the directives issued by the ODM NEC,the CEC successfully conducted the grassroots elections in all polling stations across the County on November 27,2024,” she said.
“The Committee has not received any objections from the County party leader, elected officials, aspirants or members of the public concerning the integrity of the elections process,” she added.
“It is therefore conspicuous and questionable that Orata, who was absent during the electoral process and made no effort to participate, has now chosen to raise concerns at this later stage,” noted the Chairperson.
“Notably, he did not engage in any official information in any capacity to support the exercise nor was he present at any polling station to observe the process,” She added.
The Chairlady accused Orata of being absent during polling station proceedings and even failed to provide logistical or administrative support to the Committee despite request for support.
The further revealed that the acting chair did not even vote at his Rapedhi Primary School, Kanyadoto ward, Ndhiwa Sub County.
“It is therefore regrettable that he has chosen to raise concerns about an election in which he neither participated in nor made any efforts to oversee and that is why his name is not among the delegates who were elected at the polling Station level,” she said.
According to CEC Secretary David Ogenga, those who feel aggrieved should follow the proper internal dispute resolution mechanism in case they have legitimate concerns regarding the electoral process.
He said that their sudden unprocedural request for harmonisation of the list of the elected officials at the polling stations amounts to a blatant subversion of the will of the people.
“Such a move would contravene the fundamental Democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution of the party,” he said.
“We remain committed to upholding the principles of democracy, transparency and Fairness in all electoral processes,” he added.
“We reiterate our confidence in the integrity of grassroots elections and urge all the party members to adhere to the party’s internal mechanism in resolving any grievances, especially,” he added.
