ODM warns against violence in grassroots polls

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has issued a warning to perpetrators of violence in the ongoing party grassroots elections across the country. 

In a press briefing on Tuesday at the party's Chungwa House headquarters in Nairobi, the party officials expressed disappointment with the violence witnessed in some polling units.

They warned to take action against those found culpable, including stripping them off party membership.

"We want to sound a warning to anyone planning to cause violence anywhere in the country in tomorrow's exercise that a stern action shall be taken against them,m including expulsion from the party," said Secretary for Communications and Publicity Rahab Robi. 

This comes in response to the chaos witnessed in Ndhiwa Subcounty in Homabay County, where a youth identified as Elvis Omondi, 25, lost his left palm and fingers and another sustained fractures on his shoulder after violence erupted at Buche Primary in Kanyamwa Kologi ward during the elections. 

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Ndhiwa sub-county police commander John Losia said the violence broke out when fighting erupted between residents and a group of youths they alleged had been hired from outside the area. 

The party said similar chaos was reported in Kibra, Nairobi, and Kaptembwa in Nakuru, "all of which are being investigated with a view to quick resolution."

The Standard also observed confusion in some polling units in Migori county, where factions clashed, and in some areas of Western counties, where elections were suspended due to insecurity, legal disputes, and logistical challenges. 

While sending condolence messages to the families who lost their loved ones in an accident in Homabay Town Constituency, ODM Director of Elections Oduor Ong'wen urged the party members to desist from violence and embrace competition. 

"It is unfortunate that what is meant to build us as a society ends up in the loss of life or permanent injuries," he stated.

The party of the former Premier, Raila Odinga, however, maintained that the elections across the 47 counties were "largely successful, admitting that it was the first time such a calm was witnessed in the party elections in the country.

"A few cases of members expressing dissatisfaction with the exercise were registered and were resolved amicably by the Elections Disputes Resolution Team. This paved the way for the next phase of the grassroots elections,"  said Robi. 

The Monday elections follow polling station leaders' elections in November last year, with the delegates expected to vote for subcounty party representatives on Wednesday, 9, 2025. 

"We appeal to our members to maintain the highest degree of discipline, camaraderie and respect for each other,'' she said.