Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has come out to clarify on the creteria that was used to land on former Matungu MP David Aoko Were as their preferred candidate in the upcoming mini polls.

In a statement issued on Wednesday January 6, the Orange party stated that three interested persons namely David Were, Paul Posho and Jeremiah Namunyu visited Chungwa House in December last year and picked nomination forms.

By close of business on the 24th December which was the deadline, ODM says only David Were had returned the forms.

“CLARIFICATION ON MATUNGU: Three interested persons namely Hon. David Were, Mr. Paul Posho & Mr. Jeremiah Namunyu visited Chungwa Hse in Dec. last year & picked forms. By close of biz on the 24th Dec which was the deadline, only David Were returned the forms. The other two did not,”ODM said.

ODM settled on David Were as its candidate for the Matungu by-election. 

Were was handed a direct ticket by the Orange party, a move that has not gone down well with rivals who have vowed not to support him in the March 4 mini-poll.

According to ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, the former legislator was awarded the party ticket after meeting set requirements.

In Were, Sifuna said the party had a strong candidate with the capacity to clinch the seat that fell vacant after the death of Justus Murunga on November 14, last year.

He will now face ANC candidate Peter Nabulindo and about 10 independent candidates, including Benard Wakoli who decamped from Ford Kenya after the party leadership withdrew from the race in support of the ANC candidate.

Were served as the MP for Matungu from 2002 to 2017 when he lost to Murunga.

He vied on Jubilee party ticket in 2017, having fallen out with the Orange party leadership.

Paul Achayo, a newcomer, clinched the ODM ticket but performed dismally after a section of voters branded him an ‘outsider’ from neighbouring Butere constituency.

Achayo ditched ODM two weeks ago, accusing the party of resorting to undemocratic tendencies.