ODM disowns Wanjigi as a delegate, locks him out of the NDC meeting

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has disowned Jimmy Wanjigi saying he is not a delegate of the party.

This is after Wanjigi on Sunday claimed that he is an ODM delegate from Nairobi and will be attending the NDC slated for 25th and 26th February.

Through a statement, the party’s Nairobi Chairman George Aladwa said the list of delegates was prepared in December 2021 and Wanjigi was not included.

“The Nairobi ODM branch and sub-branches held its elections that closed on 8th December 2021 and we have checked the list of delegates and we haven’t found his name either at the ward, constituency or county level,” Aladwa said.

He said the list of delegates from the polling centres to the branches has already been submitted to the National Elections Board (NEB) for purposes of preparation for the coming National Delegates Convention (NDC) slated for Friday and Saturday this week.

“This is therefore to caution one Jimi Wanjigi to desist from claiming to be a legitimate delegate when he is just an ordinary member of the party,” Aladwa added.

Wanjigi yesterday said he will attend the NDC as a delegate from Nairobi well as a presidential candidate.

“I will definitely attend, I am not only a life member but I am also a delegate from Nairobi. So, I will attend in that capacity as well as a presidential candidate,” said Wanjigi in a press briefing.

Further, Wanjigi has moved to court to challenge the upcoming ODM NDC saying it was convened irregularly.

Wanjigi, who has since declared his interest in the presidential seat, filed a petition at the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal through his proxies.

In the court documents, he said the party should undergo a nomination process in filling its presidential candidate ahead of the August 9 general election.

“The notice has not included/omitted the agenda item for conduct of the elections to nominate the party’s presidential flag bearer after every five years contrary to rule 10 and 18 of the party’s nomination rules,” Wanjigi said in the court documents.

In the suit, the businessman also said the conveners of the NDC failed to include approximately 1200 delegates who are mandated to attend the two-day event set for Friday and Saturday this week.

Wanjigi also questioned the party for not convening a National Governing Council since 2019.

“I’m a life member of ODM and a delegate from Nairobi. I will attend the NDC and demand to speak,” he said.