The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has made an important announcement abolishing the proposed Mlolongo system in its upcoming party nominations.
Philip Etale ODM Director of Communications in a tweet indicated that the ODM Elections Board had ruled out the use of Mlolongo system and will now use secret ballot.
The ODM Elections Board has announced that party primaries will be done by SECRET BALLOT, rules out the Mulolongo option.
— Philip Etale (@EtalePhilip) March 24, 2017
Earlier reports from the party’s leadership had, however, indicated that the queuing system would be adopted for use in the party's nominations.
ODM Executive Director Oduor Ong’wen on Wednesday assured branch officials that the decision to use Mlolongo system was done in good faith to safeguard the wishes of the members to enhance accountability.
Kwale ODM branch vice-chair Mr Nicholas Zani stated that the resolve to use the outdated system had been brought about by lessons from a similar exercise in 2013.
Zani further stated that the secret ballot system was prone to abuse, manipulation and logistically complex to undertake and had presented a myriad of challenges for the party countrywide.
The decision by the board to revert to secret ballot was allegedly arrived at after party members opposed the proposed Mlolongo system.
ODM will hold its party primaries next month.
The Mlolongo system, which was used by the former ruling party in the 1988 elections, was characterised by having voters queue behind the image of their favoured candidates. They were then counted physically with the person having a majority behind him/her, declared the winner.
