Five lawmakers sponsored by ODM party in the run up to last year’s General Election have been kicked out of their political outfit
The decision was arrived on Wednesday after the party’s NEC met and upheld the resolutions by the disciplinary committee
The legislators led by Langata MP Felix Odiwour faced the consequences following their dalliance to work with President William Ruto
The Orange Democratic Movement has reached it’s final conclusion on stamping authority on rebel lawmakers and announced the crackdown
In the statement sent to newsrooms on Wednesday 6th September, the party’s top brass announced that Lang’ata Member of Parliament Phelix Odiwour alias Jalang’o, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda deemed to be out of the party for advocating other party’s ideologies
The net was also casted and caught unaware, Suba South lawmaker Caroli Omondi, despite having been party’s leader Raila Odinga’s personal secretary for quite several years
Dr Gideon Ochanda of Bondo was not spared as he joined the fumigated team from the strong political party in Kenya, which has never slumped in disciplining those who go against their leader
Others shown the door are Eng. Elisha Odhiambo of Gem who together with the above lawmakers have openly shown allegiance to President William Ruto’s style of leadership
According to resolutions reached by ODM’s National Executive Council chaired by party boss Raila Odinga, stated that by virtue of five legislators working close with Dr Ruto, they meant to have given up their membership in the party, that sponsored them to win the previous elections
“They faced allegations of violating the party constitution and section 14A of the Political Parties Act 2011 by openly associating with and supporting activities of a rival political party and opposed lawful decisions/resolutions made by the party organs.
NEC decided that these members be deemed to have resigned from the party. The party is hereby directed to commence the process of removing them from the register of the party,” Part of NEC statement from ODM read
However, Uriri MP Mark Nyamita and his counterpart Paul Abuor of Rongo were fined Sh 1 Million to be paid in the 60 days after they pleaded for forgiveness when they appeared before the NEC disciplinary committee
Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris has been fined Sh250,000 for supporting the controversial Finance Act, 2023 on the floor of the House without showing remorse to their party leader’s position
The ousted MPs have now leeway to move to court to seek order of injunction of expelling them from the party if they wish to do so or let it to grass roots for by-elections, using different party tickets