ODM leader Dr. Oburu Oginga has warned political aspirants against expecting direct nominations from the party leadership, insisting that candidates seeking elective positions must earn the support of voters through their performance and engagement with the public.
Dr. Oginga said the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will conduct free and fair nominations and that he will not endorse any candidate ahead of the party primaries.
He cautioned aspirants against spending time lobbying party officials at ODM headquarters in the hope of securing direct tickets, saying the power to choose leaders ultimately rests with the electorate.
“Do not waste your time camping at the party headquarters looking for a ticket. Go and sell your agenda to the people because they are the ones who will decide who becomes a leader,” said Dr. Oginga.
The veteran politician acknowledged that during the leadership of his late brother, Raila Odinga, some politicians relied on endorsements and political backing from the party leadership. However, he said he would not follow the same approach.
Dr. Oginga also revealed that he is prepared to compete for the ODM ticket to defend his Siaya Senate seat, which is also being eyed by former Siaya Governor Amoth Rasanga.
“Do not depend on me because I will not help anyone secure a ticket. I will not allow anyone to ride on my popularity because it is the people who decide who receives leadership positions,” he said.
In previous elections, securing an ODM ticket in regions such as Nyanza, Coast and parts of Western Kenya was often viewed as a guarantee of victory even before the general election.
This was largely because ODM candidates traditionally enjoyed overwhelming support in those regions, making the party ticket highly coveted.
The late Raila Odinga was known for brokering agreements among aspirants, sometimes endorsing a single candidate to avoid divisive nominations.
On several occasions, Raila publicly endorsed candidates by raising their hands during political rallies and urging supporters to back them.
However, after recent elections, some ODM leaders have faced criticism over alleged poor performance and complacency, with critics arguing that some relied too heavily on the party’s popularity to secure re-election.
ODM headquarters has also faced criticism in previous elections over claims of lack of transparency in party nominations, with allegations that some aspirants were able to influence the nomination process through political connections and financial resources.
