ODM hands direct nomination ticket to Kombe in Magarini

Among vacant positions still to be filled are Ugunja and Kasipul MP seats.

by JANET ONYANGO

News12 September 2025 - 14:32

In Summary

National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) chairperson, Emily Awita, said Kombe was among a number of aspirants who faced no competition.
She said Fafi Ward and several other ward seats had only one applicant each during the nomination period, making primaries unnecessary.

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The Orange Democratic Movement has issued a direct nomination ticket to Harrison Kombe for the Magarini parliamentary seat in Kilifi county for the November 27 by-elections.

According to the party’s National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) chairperson, Emily Awita, Kombe was among a number of aspirants who faced no competition and therefore received automatic nomination.

She confirmed that the Magarini Constituency, Fafi Ward and several other ward seats had only one applicant each during the nomination period, making primaries unnecessary.

“Note that Magarini Constituency and Fafi Ward candidates were awarded direct tickets by the party. In addition, Chewani, Kisa East, Purko, Angata Nanyokie and Naanam Wards also had unopposed aspirants,” she said in a statement at Chungwa House.

“We have therefore gathered here today to present them with their certificates as unopposed ODM candidates.”

Other aspirants who received direct ODM tickets include Salimu Mohamed for Chewani Ward, Thomas Eshuya Oyolo for Kisa East, Daniel Naikuni for Purko, Letoluai Loisia for Angata Nanyokie, Feisal Gedi for Fafi Ward and Mohammed Yussuf for Naanam.

The NECC assured party members that nominations for all remaining contested positions would be conducted in a transparent and fair manner.

“For the remaining seats where there is more than one aspirant, I want to assure you that the party primaries will be conducted between September 24 and 27, 2025,” Awita said.

Among the vacant positions still to be filled are the Ugunja and Kasipul parliamentary seats.

The Ugunja seat became vacant after former MP Opiyo Wandayi was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum in President Ruto’s recent Cabinet reshuffle.

The Kasipul seat fell vacant following the fatal shooting of MP Ongondo Were in late April in Nairobi.

Political observers expect the by-elections to attract wide attention as ODM works to maintain dominance in its traditional strongholds.

ODM reiterated that it has always demonstrated readiness to provide leadership in strengthening democracy within the party and across the nation.