The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has issued a statement following the disruption of the Kasipul Constituency party primaries, which were to take place as part of preparations for the November 27 by-election.
In a press release dated September 24, 2025, signed by National Election Board Chairperson Emily Awita, ODM confirmed that the party nomination for Kasipul Constituency scheduled for the day had been disrupted and subsequently postponed.
“This has been occasioned by the violent invasion of the election materials distribution centre by one of the aspirants, a Mr. Newton Ogada, who is alleged to have arrived with goons and started threatening the Returning Officer and other officials,” the statement reads.
The situation was further complicated by the unexpected arrival of Homa Bay County Deputy Governor Douglas Orindo, who allegedly came to the venue uninvited.
"The process was further delayed by the arrival of the Deputy Governor of Homabay County, Hon. Douglas Orindo, who is not a candidate in the primaries," the statement noted. "This unnecessary disruption has caused the delay in the exercise which was supposed to be closed of at 6:00 pm."
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ODM described the incident as not only barbaric but also deeply concerning, given the party's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the nomination process.
"This incident is not only barbaric but also egregious considering the commitment that the aspirants signed for in the nomination exercise, which they agreed to deliver during a meeting held in Nairobi last Tuesday (16/09/2025)," the party stated.
In response to the disruption, ODM emphasized maintaining calmness, friendliness, and order during nomination exercises.
"We expect calmness, friendliness, and sobriety during the exercise, and this issue of issuing threats to election officials and causing unnecessary delays, stern disciplinary action will be taken against them, including being disqualified from the exercise," the party warned.
The disruption comes amid growing tensions within the party regarding the Kasipul nomination process.
Earlier concerns had been raised about potential bias among party officials, with aspirants alleging that some constituency and national-level officials had already shown favoritism toward certain candidates before the official nomination process began.
During a previous meeting chaired by Awita to establish the conduct modalities for the primaries, aspirants had expressed concerns about what they perceived as unfair interference in the democratic process.
They had specifically called out certain party officials for allegedly campaigning alongside preferred candidates while dismissing the importance of the nomination exercise.
The Kasipul Constituency by-election became necessary in April this year after the death of the area's Member of Parliament, Charles Ong'ondo.
Five aspirants currently seek the ODM ticket: George Otieno (alias Ajo Mbuta), Okindo Majiwa, Ottoman Adele, Boyd Were, and Newton Ogada.
