Editor's Review

ODM SG Sifuna said consensus and award of direct tickets is a common practice across many parties.

ODM party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has dismissed remarks by DP William Ruto's digital strategist Dennis Itumbi claiming the Orange party cannot hold democratic primaries.

Itumbi alleged that the Orange party is ruled in a dictatorial manner adding that the award of tickets to party candidates is always a shambolic affair that is devoid of democracy.

"Raila Odinga admits ODM is the party of chaos. ODM is so chaotic it cannot survive a democratic process, like elections (Nominations). 

{ODM leader Raila Odinga. Image: Courtesy}

"Proposes dictatorship in the Party so that there is no competing and chaos. You can doubt us, but how do you doubt the party itself?" the blogger posed while responding to a newspaper reporting.

Sifuna in a response to Itumbi's accusations told him off saying democratic nominations is not mandatory in identifying party flagbearers.

The ODM SG noted that consensus is a common practice in picking the party candidate.

He also quoted the UDA party constitution which stipulates that a candidate can be picked through consensus and direct ticket method.

"Itumbi, you haven't even read @UDAKenya Nomination rules and we can tell. They also provide for Consensus among candidates and DIRECT TICKETS as methods of nominations. Hustler Nation Ignorance Bureau," he responded.

ODM party has been facing accusations of selling its ticket to the highest bidder contrary to the will of party members who are supposed to elect their preferred candidates.

Nomination exercises through universal suffrage have become an expensive affair for parties to hold and at the same time initiate a spirited campaign during a General Elections.

This has seen most parties opt for consensus and award of direct tickets to save on cost and prepare for the real battle at the main polls.