Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he did not intervene in the late former Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo’s 2017 loss in the ODM nominations, because the party has structures, that even him as the party leader cannot overturn.
Speaking on Saturday during the burial of Midiwo, Odinga noted that the 2017 nominations were a heated affair that saw his brother Dr. Oburu Odinga and other close allies locked out.
He further noted that he lacked the power to overturn the people’s will, adding that he could not force the two leaders on the people.
“In the last elections, there were a lot of complaints about nominations. But if you want to know that ODM respects party structures, if I had the power to make changes, Jakoyo and Dr. Oburu Odinga would have been in Parliament.
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“As a party, we have to print ballot papers, have presiding and returning officers in each of the polling stations in the country and we don’t have the necessary funds to do it,” Raila said.
He, however, promised to work with the ODM leadership to ensure the 2022 nomination exercise is seamless, and that the results of the exercise represent the will of the people.
According to Odinga, the new ODM National Elections Board headed by Ms. Catherine Muma is up to the task and will ensure everyone is happy.
