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Kenya: ODM Cries Foul as Passaris Axed
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The Nation (Nairobi)
23 February 2008
Posted to the web 25 February 2008
Kenneth Ogosia
Nairobi
The much expected nomination of the Adopt-A-Light proprietor, Ms Esther Passaris, as a councillor in Nairobi was dealt a body blow when her name went missing from a list gazetted by Local Government minister Uhuru Kenyatta.
Her party, the Orange Democratic Movement, immediately protested and accused Mr Kenyatta of deleting the name because he feared her bid to become mayor.
ODM claims it gave 12 names, including Ms Passaris, but the minister reduced it to 11 and nominated somebody else the party is not aware of.
"We are going to institute a court injunction today and stop the elections countrywide due to the conduct of the minister. Although it is a weekend, the duty judges should be available to stop this fraud taking place at all levels," secretary-general Anyang' Nyong'o said.
He said the minister has interfered with over 30 names they presented in various councils such as Mombasa, Nairobi and Kwale and many in Rift Valley Province.
Could sail through
Ms Passaris had declared her interest in the mayorship and was expected to face ODM's elected councillor for Baba Dogo, Mr Godffrey Odhiambo Majiwa.
Mr Majiwa, who could now sail through given the ODM majority in the council, had been accused by Passaris of being sponsored by PNU to spoil her chances.
Most names in Nairobi are not of notable personalities except that of lawyer Timothy Wanyonyi Wetang'ula.
Mr Wetangula is the chairman of the Kenya Paraplegics Organisation and a close ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga.
In Mombasa, the person touted to be favourite for the post of mayor, Mr Taufiq Salim Balala, was nominated together with football administrator Mohammed Hatimy, businessman Okoth Waudi, Ali Abubakar Mohdhar and eight others.
Former Town Clerk
In Kisumu, the man Mr Odinga proposed for mayor, Mr Sam Onyango Okello was gazetted alongside former Nairobi Town Clerk John Ong'ele and five others.
Local Government minister Uhuru Kenyatta said he had forwarded the names of nominated councillors for gazetting as presented by the Electoral Commission which received them from various political parties.
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There are 2,402 elected councillors and 759 nominated ones in the country.
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