Plans by the National Super Alliance (NASA) to conduct joint nominations now hang by a thread after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party led by Raila Odinga gave direct nomination tickets to 427 aspirants including Governers, MPs, Senators and MCAs.
Among the lucky ones to get the party ticket without competition were Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero and his Mombasa counterpart, Ali Hassan Joho.
The two are among 16 aspirants for governor, 16 for senator, 11 for woman representative and 307 aspiring Members of County Assembly (MCA) who benefited from the move.
The decision, however, is feared will further introduce cracks in the NASA coalition that had agreed to conduct joint nomination especially in urban areas to avoid internal competition.
This now means that for example, Governor Joho from the ODM Party will face off with Hassan Omar or Wiper - both in NASA.
This scenario is replicated in many of the counties across the country and will generate alot of heat epecially from other affiliate parties within NASA who were hoping for a joint nomination.
Speaking during awarding of the direct nominations, Raila defended the move saying it was aimed at readying the party to take on Jubilee during the August elections.
“Today, we give certificates to some of our hardest working and strongest aspirants and set them free to focus on the big battle of August elections. Some of you have been honoured by your constituents because of the dedication with which you have served the party,” the ODM Party leader stated.
The issue of joint nominations has been a bone of contention in the NASA coalition, with affiliate parties still divided on whether to conduct separate or joint primaries.
