ODM sets dates for party primaries ahead of November by-elections

According to ODM's National Elections Board (NEB) Chairperson Emily Awita, the party has put in place mechanisms to ensure the primaries are transparent and credible. 

She added that ODM will seek to recapture all seats previously held by the party as well as strengthen its numbers by fielding candidates in all vacant areas. 

"For the remaining seats, where there is more than one aspirant, I want to assure you that party primaries will be conducted between September 24 and September 27, 2025. NEC is prepared and will ensure that the exercise is free, fair, transparent and credible," Awita stated. 

Her remarks were echoed by ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohamed, who revealed that the party will not hesitate to defend its turf against what he termed as 'infiltrators' from outside the party.

He warned that any attempts by other parties within the broad-based alliance to encroach on ODM territory would be met with firm resistance, asserting that they should pave the way for ODM's candidates in stronghold areas. 

"I know the political environment that exists now is broad-based, but that doesn't affect political parties. Every party is entitled to fight for its seat, but broadly at the constituency level, we've agreed that ODM will field candidates where it's the strongest. Where the previous holder is ODM, the party will field the candidate, for example, Kasipul, Ugunja, Magarini, those are ODM areas," he stated. 

"I assume the battle will be between ODM and infiltrators from outside. I don't expect anyone from broad-based to infiltrate and try to muscle with ODM, because the fight won't be sweet," he said.

The officials also issued direct tickets to candidates running unopposed in the upcoming by-elections, such as Harrison Kombe of Magarini constituency and seven ward representative candidates.