Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General, Edwin Sifuna, on Wednesday, September 22, explained why Jimi Wanjigi may not be the party’s flagbearer in the 2022 General Election.
While appearing on Spice FM's morning show dubbed the situation room, the Secretary General stated that Wanjigi was yet to make his application for the party’s ticket.
“First of all, he has not presented himself for the presidential ticket. Jimi Wanjigi is not a candidate for the party’s presidential ticket," Sifuna stated.
He further stated that the party had closed the application process for the presidential ticket.
“When we opened the process, there were only two applicants, and they are known,” Sifuna stated, adding that Wanjigi is a life member of ODM but has been so only since 2018.
However, the Secretary General noted that the presidential aspirant made a request to have the party reopen the application process.
“He has made a request that I will submit to the National Executive Committee (NEC) in the next two weeks to have the process reopened so that he can apply,” he stated.
In what is seen as a jibe at the businessman’s aspiration, the party official stated that he was sceptical of Wanjigi’s intention for the party.
“His intention is not to support the party. He has ulterior intentions that he will tell us about when the time is right,” Sifuna stated.
He went further to claim that the businessman was demanding that only one of the four methods in the party constitution be used to pick the presidential flagbearer in the 2022 General Election.
"An individual comes and says that I ascribe to these rules but I will only insist on a direct ticket," Sifuna claimed.
Wanjigi has been popularising his candidature among ODM delegates across the country.
Recently, the presidential aspirant’s meeting in Migori County was disrupted after a group of rowdy youth hurled stones at his entourage.
