ODM has amended its constitution to remove the contentious clause that makes the party leader the automatic presidential candidate. The Party's National Governing Council met in Nairobi yesterday and unanimously resolved to remove the clause from its constitution as a way of promoting competition in the nomination of the party's presidential flagbearer.

However, the council threw out a proposal to devolve the nomination of its presidential candidate to the counties and resolved that the National Delegates Conference does the job. Party leader Raila Odinga chaired the meeting held at the Bomas of Kenya where it was also resolved that the party creates county election coordinating panels to oversee the impending nominations for the general election.

The panels will be appointed by the NEC and shall be in charge of party nominations at county level in the forthcoming elections. That council also resolved that those aspiring senators, MPs, county representatives and women representatives be subjected to a hybrid system of universal suffrage and electoral college.

Addressing the council, Raila said the changes will ensure that ODM remains a strong party that will go on to win the next general election. "Let's go out and do more work for our party, our youths, our women and our country," Raila said. "This is one battle that ODM cannot afford to lose. We have no option but institute measures because we have no options but win the elections," added Raila.

Chairman Henry Kosgey declared ODM a revamped party that is going flat out to consolidate its popularity from 42 per cent opinion rating to over 50 per cent. Others who addressed the gathering were secretary general Anyang' Nyongo, executive director Janet Ongera and Nairobi mayor George Aladwa.