ODM Secretary General Dr Agnes Zani (2nd left) chatting with party supporters at Orange House headquarters after cancellation of the nominations on April 25, 2017. [PHOTO/standardmedia.co.ke]
It has emerged that ODM was forced to cancel its Nairobi nominations after a rival faction of its Nairobi branch instigated theft of ballot papers.
The party said the thieves broke into the party warehouse along Isiolo Road in Industrial Area just a few hours to the nomination exercise.
The thieves are said to be related to a group within the Nairobi ODM leadership and is said to have been infuriated when the party on Monday decided to change the list of returning and presiding officers who were to lead the exercise.
Sources said that there were two parallel sets of presiding officers fronted by the separate groups and this forced the party's National Elections Board (NEB) to restructure the list.
"There were reports made to the police at Industrial Area of a breach at the party warehouse and we are investigating with a view of taking action," said Nairobi police boss, Japheth Koome.
"This is a political situation arising from new political dynamics we wake up to every day, we have to make decisions as we move along," said Zani.