- ODM aspirants in Kasipul accuse the party of secrecy in the nomination process.
- Leaders warn against attempts to impose a preferred candidate.
- Lack of transparency on the returning officer and the tallying centre fuels anger.
- Boyd Were, son of slain MP Charles Ong’ondo, emerges as a frontrunner with high-profile endorsements.
Tension is rising in Kasipul Constituency as ODM prepares for nominations. Several aspirants have accused the party of playing games by withholding crucial details of the process. They claim that with only a few days left before the primaries, they remain in the dark about who will oversee the exercise and where the tallying will take place.
On Monday, September 22, 2025, the aspirants addressed the media, warning that the silence from ODM was a clear sign of bias. They argued that a truly free and fair nomination would have been transparent from the start.
“If you are planning to steal our votes, try somewhere else, not Kasipul,” one aspirant warned, adding that residents would resist any attempt to impose a candidate.
The politicians further alleged that only one aspirant had been given information about the process while the rest were sidelined. They warned the party leadership that democracy should not only be preached at the national level but also practised at the grassroots.
The parliamentary seat fell vacant following the tragic killing of MP Charles Ong’ondo Were in Nairobi on April 30, 2025. His son, Boyd Were, has since become a strong contender.
Earlier this month, President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, openly endorsed Boyd during a fundraiser at Ogande Girls Library in Homa Bay County. Kibet praised him as capable of taking over his father’s mantle and urged ODM supporters to back him.
“This young man is enough to take the seat. Let him continue. And the party is ODM. Isn’t it?” Kibet told the crowd, prompting cheers.
The endorsement was further boosted by the presence of Ida Odinga and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga at the same event, signalling quiet approval from ODM’s inner circle. Since then, more leaders, including Kipkelion West MP Hilary Kosgei and Lamu Woman Representative Muthoni Murabu, have also declared support for Boyd.
The nomination process in Kasipul is now seen as a litmus test for ODM’s internal democracy. With rising tension and accusations of favouritism, the party faces a tough balancing act to avoid a fallout that could cost it the seat.
