Orange Democratic Movement party, ODM has issued a strong warning to the media houses peddling ‘lies against the party in its preparations for Kibra constituency by-elections.
While reacting to the alleged fake story ran by the star newspaper on Wednesday alleging that Raila Odinga was on Thursday going to chair a crucial meeting with the party’s top decision making organ to decide on the mode of nomination for the Kibra by-election.
The newspaper went ahead to state that the meeting had been convened to endorse consensus for the nomination.
The Star understands there is intense behind-the-scenes lobbying from the party’s leadership to have the 11 candidates cleared by the Judy Pareno-led National Elections Board build consensus prior to the primary. Read part of the story
ODM however, came out to strongly condemn the story as fake, malicious and untrue. The party’s Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna was among the first officials to defend the party saing that the story by the star was misleading.
This is, of course, FAKE NEWS by The Star Kenya. There is no such meeting tomorrow or at all. There is no party effort for “consensus”. The NEB is on course in its preparations for the nominations Saturday. Watu wakutane kwa debe. Very desperate propaganda. Tweeted Sifuna
This is ofcourse FAKE NEWS by @TheStarKenya. There is no such meeting tomorrow or at all. There is no party effort for "consensus". The NEB is on course in its preparations for the nominations Saturday. Watu wakutane kwa debe. Very desperate propaganda. https://t.co/0F8ofyyLpy
— Edwin Sifuna (@edwinsifuna) September 4, 2019
While referring to a specific journalist from the Star newspaper, Sifuna stated that ODM will soon start singling out individual journalists whom he accused of being authors of Fake News.
It’s time we start singling out individual journalists who are purveyors of FAKE NEWS. James Mbaka of @TheStarKenya is one of them. This story is FAKE. Conjured in the bowels of his fertile imagination to stir disquiet and push usual narratives against @TheODMparty. Takataka
Sifuna’s sentiments were echoed by a series of ODM party Tweets that also condemned the story warning media houses against spreading speculative tendencies that are aimed at causing unnecessary friction and tension among Kenyans.
The media should stop their speculative tendencies that are aimed at causing unnecessary friction and tension. We have channels of communication within the party and any information needed for dissemination should be sought from the SG, ED or the Director of Communications.
— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) September 4, 2019
The party insisted that it is are ready for the nomination exercise in Kibra on Saturday 7th Sept. 2019 at all the gazetted polling stations in the constituency. It also added that all the candidates who were cleared for the nominations are ready for the exercise.
Ignore the lead story on the @TheStarKenya. We are ready for the nomination exercise in Kibra this Saturday 7th Sept. 2019 at all @IEBCKenya gazetted polling stations. All candidates who were cleared for the nominations are also ready for the exercise. It is all systems go.
— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) September 4, 2019
Here are some more information from the party concerning preparations for nominations;
All party members are listed in the register and will be identified once at the polling station before taking part in the exercise. Only ODM Party members will be allowed to participate in the nomination exercise in Kibra. The NEB will keep you posted as we approach the day >P.E.
— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) September 4, 2019
We urge our supporters and members of the party in Kibra Constituency as well as our candidates for the party ticket to prepare for the nominations exercise on Saturday, they should carry their ID & membership card to participate > P.E.
— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) September 4, 2019