Former prime minister Raila Odinga will battle it out with his party deputy leaders, Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya for the ODM ticket in next year’s general election.
ODM had on January 24, 2021, invited members interested in vying for the presidency using the party ticket in 2022 to send their applications to National Elections Board (NEB).
The applicants were supposed to meet a set of requirements including; must be a Kenyan, registered voter, life member of ODM and holds a degree from a recognised university. The applicants were to pay KSh1 million non-refundable registration fee.
As at 31st March, 2021, the orange party had received three applications, that of Joho, Raila and Oparanya.
The party has unsuccessfully vied for the presidency thrice, in 2007, 2013, and 2017 General Elections. On both these occasions, Raila has been the flag bearer.
“NEB shall now be required to vet the three applicants as required by the ODM Elections and Nominations rules, and subsequent thereto announce the next process and announce the next time table in accordance with the ODM constitution,” reads a statement from the Party.
The party has since postponed these subsequent NEB activities on identifying the party’s flag bearer for 2022 General Election, to focus on concluding the BBI process.
“The NEB will, therefore suspend the vetting and/or further processing of the applications until further conclusion of the BBI process,” says party Sec-Gen Edwin Sifuna.