ODM to Field Candidates in all Positions as it Backs Down on Zooning
By Julius Mwamuye
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The Kilifi County Orange Democratic Movement coordinating committee has said that it would field candidates in all elective positions in the 2027 general election including those being held by the United Democratic Alliance party in the county except the presidency.
Led by Governor Gideon Mung’aro, Kilifi senator Stewart Madzayo and woman representative Getrude Mbeyu, the leaders said they were open to competition with all parties as they also organized grassroots mobilization strategy that would boost party membership and number of voters.
“We have discovered that some of our members are not registered as a member of the party and also as voters and that is what the grassroots mobilization will do so that we have enough party members and also a high number of voters,” the governor said.
According to him the party has accepted to practice democracy with UDA in choosing popular candidates who will help get votes for President William Ruto’s reelection.
“We invited all candidates irrespective of their parties for nominations and we encourage defectors to join ODM so that the party can be strong,” he said.
The senator said that the party would not field a presidential candidate in respect to the broad- based arrangement, but it would instead focus on the 2032 general election.
“It is only this coming general election that we have accepted to support Ruto for his second term but in 2032 our party will have a presidential candidate,” he said.
The woman representative warned ODM members against party hopping saying that they would be punished if found.
“We have some members who shift parties depending on events and they are our ODM members. I warn them that they should stick to the party or we will drive them out,” she said.
Joseph Chilumo, who is the vice chairman of the Kilifi County coordinating committee, said that the top three county seats including governor, senator and women representative will not be contested, but the party would field candidates in all other electing posts currently being held by UDA; a move that was expected to raffle feathers in the broad- based government.
“We have three positions of Governor, Senator and Women Representative which we will not allowe to be taken away because they’re reserved for ODM but the rest of the positions including the Kilifi North seat, we shall field a candidate,” he said.
Currently, ODM has four MPs who are Amina Mnyazi of Malindi, Ken Chonga of Kilifi South, Harry Kombe of Magarini and Kaloleni’s Paul Katana while UDA has Kilifi North’s Owen Baya and Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) defectors Kenneth Kazungu of Ganze and his Rabai counterpart Kenga Mupe.
About The Author
