ODM drops unit-level elections in Kwale, Taita Taveta

ODM conducts membership registration exercise in March, 2025. /ODM/X

ODM grassroots elections in Kwale and Taita Taveta counties scheduled for next month will now be held in tiers only, the party has said.

ODM National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) chairperson Emily Awita made the announcement on Thursday.

In a previous notice issued on July 21, Awita said the party would conduct the elctions in three phases - unit-level elections, sub-branch (ward-level) and branch (constituency-level) elections.

The polling unit-level elections had been scheduled for Monday, August 4.

Sub-branch (ward-level) polls had been scheduled for Monday, August 11 while branch (constituency-level) elections on Wednesday, August 14.

In the update, Awita indicated that the polling unit-level elections have been done away with. She did not expound.

The notice indicated that the grassroots elections for the sub-branch and branch level will go ahead on the dates as earlier scheduled.

In the July 21 notice, Awita emphasised ODM's commitment to conducting transparent and democratic elections.

She described the exercise as essential for grassroots mobilisation and revitalisation of ODM’s internal structures.

The Kwale and Taita Taveta elections are part of a broader national rollout of ODM grassroots elections initiated in April 2025.

They follow the successful polling unit elections conducted on November 27, 2024 which NECC said were held at designated centers across all 47 counties.

During the April 9 elections, a total of 77 officials were elected to serve in four key committees: Mainstream, Women’s League, Youth League, and the Disability League.

Delegates also elected representatives for women, youth, disability, and special interest groups, along with eight general committee members.

Chairperson, deputy chairperson, secretary, deputy secretary, treasurer, deputy treasurer, organising secretary, and their deputies were also elected across the country’s 290 constituencies.

ODM’s grassroots elections mirror a similar exercise being carried out by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), as both parties work to consolidate their national presence and prepare for future political contests.

On March 7, ODM and UDA signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on national development and political stability.

On July 29, the Central Committee of the party reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to the working relationship with UDA.

It also proposed the formation of a technical committee between the two parties to oversee the implementation of the MoU.