Raila's party given 48-hr ultimatum

juma chrispinus

May 8, 2017 8:42 AM

Most of its certificates issued have been cancelled, exactly three months to the general elections

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A storm is brewing in Raila Odinga led Orange Democratic Party (ODM) over a new order from the Political Parties Tribunal.

Following the petition filled by the party bigwigs at the coast and Nyanza regions over sham primaries, ODM has been ordered to repeat nominations in these crucial turfs in the next 48 hours.

Odinga’s party has been ordered to repeat the highly contested Taita-Taveta governorship nominations even as it re-affirmed Mr Cyprian Awiti as the party’s candidate for Homa Bay, despite an earlier decision by the party.

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The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal also cancelled certificate issued by the Orange Democratic Movement to Wundanyi Member of Parliament Thomas Mwadeghu, who floored Taita Taveta governor John Muruttu in the concluded polls.

The tribunal has also ordered polling in Jipe, Chala, Mahandakini, St Joseph Kivukoni and Chala-Njukini primary schools, where no voting took place.

“A declaration is hereby issued that ODM did not conduct a free and fair nomination for the position of governor for Taita-Taveta County on April 18,” the tribunal ruled on Sunday.

In Governor Awiti’s case, the tribunal argued that it had no jurisdiction to overturn a decision by ODM’s Central Committee, which has been mandated by the party’s National Executive Council to decide on internal disputes of party members and that the “decisions it makes are binding”.

It ruled: “We have considered the deliberations of the central committee and we are convinced justice was done in awarding Mr Awiti the certificate.”

Already ODM secretary-general, Dr Agnes Zani, has been summoned to appear before the tribunal on Monday (today) to explain why she has not conducted a repeat poll for Bonchari Constituency from May 3 as was ordered.

juma chrispinus