According to the party’s revised nomination rules, the applicants will further sign a code of conduct and make a pledge to support the party manifesto/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 9 – Applicants seeking nomination as candidates on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket will be required to make monthly contributions towards financing of party operations.
According to the party’s revised nomination rules, the applicants will further sign a code of conduct and make a pledge to support the party manifesto.
All the pledges shall be witnessed by a Commissioner of Oaths or a Magistrate.
The proposed rule 21 states that: “The amounts to be pledged by party candidates shall be set out and reviewed from time to time by the National Executive Committee (NEC). The amounts pledged shall be recoverable by the party as a civil debt.”
ODM has – arising from lessons learnt in the 2007 nominations – decided to form a National Appeals Tribunal which will be appointed by the NEC to determine appeals arising from elections of national officials and nominations of presidential candidates, governors, senators and county women representatives.
The National Elections Board will no longer have the power to act on disputes arising from election of officials and nomination of candidates.
Appeals to the National Appeals Tribunal shall be in writing and shall be lodged within 48 hours of the announcement of results appealed from.
It will be a pricey affair as those with disputes shall, on appeal, pay a non-refundable fee of Sh70,000 to the party.
The party also intends to form the County Appeals Tribunal that will have jurisdiction over appeals arising from sub-location, ward, sub-branch, branch and appeals arising from nominations of County Ward representatives and members of the National Assembly except for the County Women Representative.
Appellants here will part with a non-refundable fee of Sh30,000.
ODM plans to hold party primaries between December 4 and 6 ahead of the March 4, 2013 general elections.
ODM’s National Delegates Convention will be held on November 29 and 30 to confirm Raila Odinga as the party’s presidential candidate.
The party’s NEC will nominate and present to the (IEBC) a list of members to be on the party lists in accordance with Section 34 of the Elections Act.
Those seeking to be nominated as president will pay Sh1 million to the party apart from meeting conditions set out in the Elections Act.
Persons seeking nomination for election as members of the County Assembly should apart from other conditions be required to have been active participants in party programs six months prior to seeking nomination.
The applicants will pay Sh20,000 or Sh15,000 for special groups and present copies of post-secondary school qualifications recognised in Kenya.
Persons seeking nomination for election as Governor will be required to be ODM life members and will pay Sh300,000. Those seeking to be elected to the Senate will pay Sh250,000 while those who wish to be elected as members of the National Assembly will pay Sh100,000.
The National Elections Board will vet candidates to comply with requirements of the country’s Constitution, The Political Parties Act, the Elections Act, the County Government Act, the Party Constitution and Party Election and Nomination Rules.
Other parties are in the process of completing their rules before submission ahead of the October 17 deadline.
The National Alliance (TNA) Secretary General Onyango Oloo of confirmed that drafting of the nomination rules was underway and the party will meet aspirants on Friday to share the regulations with them.
He said that the party still has time to beat the deadline set for next Wednesday.
“TNA is a party of consultations and we have a grand aspirant’s forum on Friday at Kasarani so that they look at the rules before we submit them,” he told Capital FM News.
Wiper Democratic Movement Secretary General Mutula Kilonzo also confirmed that the party already has its rules in place.
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