The electorates in Homa Bay are turning their focus on the party’s new Secretary General Hon. Ababu Namwamba to ensure free and fair nominations are carried out.
Homa Bay county has been part of the powder kegs of ODM politics owing to the manner in which leaders get the nomination certificates. In all fairness, something has to change.
Sources close to the new secretary general intimate to this writer that he intends to put a strong case for free and fair nominations in Homa Bay to convince the electorates to turn up and vote the ODM candidate.
Hon Namwamba, the Budalangi member of parliament campaigned viciously for the position of ODM Secretary General  which makes him the person who signs all nomination papers for the party’s successful candidates to view in any seat.
Already, the vacant senate seat of Homa Bay county has attracted advocate Silas Jakakimba and businessmen Hillary Alila and Fred Rabongo.
Also in the race is former Rangwe MP Engineer Phillip Okundi.
Okundi is said to have the backing of Oburu Oginga, whom sources claim has pocketed millions of shillings to influence his appointment. Alila, who vied against Kajwang’ in the last elections and briefly decamped to Kalausi has returned in ODM.
Little is known of city businessman Fred Rabongo though sources indicate he has been active on ODM matters including the Okoa Kenya where he is credited with facilitating collection of signatures for the referendum.
Advocate Jakakimba IS a long time aide of former prime minister Raila Odinga. He briefly lectured at the University of Nairobi Law School before moving to South Africa to pursue PhD studies.
Those privy to the goings on around the senate seat claim there is no preferred candidate for now but almost all the candidates mentioned above have been seen trying to seek endorsement of ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga.
Mr Namwamba and Mr Odinga are reported to be in agreement that all the candidates face the people for nomination after which the party’s massive political machine will take over the campaigns.
The two ODM leaders, who are believed to have met at least thrice to strategize for Homa Bay, are however said to be wary of infiltration from state agents and are seeking other ways of getting the best ODM candidate. It is probable that some form of ‘negotiations’ will be employed to get the ODM candidate.
However, critics of such a scenario point out the fact that those who are ‘talked away’ may anger their supporters who may not turn out to vote. However, it remains to be seen if other parties will field candidates to battle it out with ODM.