Kanyadoto Ward Member of County Assembly, Apopo Lentana, has called on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to urgently rebuild its grassroots networks and ensure open, fair and competitive party nominations, warning that failure to reform could weaken its support base ahead of the next general election.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation on Thursday, Lentana argued that the party risks repeating past mistakes if it continues with a system he says discouraged internal competition and weakened voter enthusiasm during the last election cycle.
Apopo Lentana said ODM must restore trust among its supporters by ensuring equal opportunity in nominations and avoiding favouritism in ticket allocation.
“ODM party should focus on strengthening its grassroots fast and assuring its supporters that there will be no circuit cows, because what happened in 2022 was quite terrible,” he said.
He further alleged that the 2022 nomination process in parts of Luo Nyanza was heavily influenced by direct ticket issuance, a move he believes limited competition within the party and created political openings for rival groups.
“Almost all MPs in Luo Nyanza were given direct tickets,” he said.
Lentana maintained that ODM’s strength has always come from internal competition and popularity-driven nominations, insisting that the party should trust voters at the grassroots level when selecting candidates.
“They must give the most popular candidate a ticket in a free and fair open nomination.”
He warned that decisions made without strong consultation with the ground could weaken ODM’s hold, even in areas considered its traditional support bases.
He also pointed to past election patterns, saying poor nomination choices and divided support had cost the party crucial votes in key regions.
“If there was only one candidate against the ODM candidate in Ndhiwa in 2022, for example, the MP could have lost,” he said.
His remarks come at a time when ODM is engaged in internal and external political discussions on zoning arrangements with the United Democratic Alliance Party ahead of the 2027 elections, with leaders defending zoning as part of broader coalition negotiations and strategy.
Orange Democratic Movement leaders have maintained that zoning remains central to protecting its strongholds and balancing political interests within alliances.
ODM Party national chairperson Gladys Wanga said the party will enter negotiations on equal terms, stating, “If we are going for negotiations, we are going as equal partners, not as a weaker party.”
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed also defended zoning, arguing that it forms part of ODM’s strategy to secure its base, adding, “There is no negotiation when it comes to zoning… we are not going to allow UDA to plant candidates here in our strongholds.”
Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma similarly supported zoning, saying it is necessary to protect ODM’s political influence and prevent rivals from weakening its support in Nyanza and other regions.
However, Lentana dismissed zoning as a risky approach, saying ODM should instead rely on grassroots-driven nominations and allow voters to choose candidates freely.
He urged the party to strengthen its presence in areas such as Kisa East Ward and parts of Kakamega, warning that neglecting such regions could reduce its influence in Western Kenya.
Lentana said ODM still has strong support in its traditional bases but warned against complacency and internal control of nominations.
“ODM will sweep all the election seats in Nyanza… but they must have strong footing, even Western Province,” he said.
He further insisted that inclusivity and fairness in nominations remain key to the party’s future strength, arguing that long-term success depends on reconnecting with ordinary voters rather than relying on internal arrangements.
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