ODM to expel leaders who defect
ODM leader Raila Odinga addresses a rally at KIE Grounds in Taveta Town, Taita-Taveta County, on September 20,2016. He asked local leaders to resolve their differences amicably. He also said that the party would hold free and fair nominations for the 2017 elections. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The ODM disciplinary committee has accused the elected leaders of violating the law and the party’s constitution.
- The defectors, include Governors Ukur Yatani and Salim Mvurya.
- A resolution that the MPs be expelled would subsequently be sent to the Registrar of Political Parties, the Speakers of Senate and National Assembly and County assemblies.
- Mr Mvurya has been unapologetic over his statement that he will work with Jubilee and has asked his critics in ODM to stop nagging him.
The ODM disciplinary committee has recommended the expulsion of 13 members who have defected to Jubilee Party.
The team has accused the elected leaders of violating the law and the party’s constitution.
Among those that the party wants kicked out are two governors, one deputy governor, 10 MPs and an undisclosed number of MCAs across the country.
ODM disciplinary committee chairman Fred Athuok on Tuesday said his team had given the green light to the party’s National Executive Council to expel the leaders, who have said they will support President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Jubilee Party in next year’s elections.
“These leaders have by conduct or statement indicated their intention to defect from the party or by expressly attending the overt functions and activities of other political parties,” Mr Athuok said in a statement. “Under Section 14 (5) (c) of the Political Parties Act, the disciplinary committee deems such a member to have defected.”
The statement is copied to the party’s Executive Council, the Registrar of Political Parties, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the Political Parties’ Dispute Tribunal.
The defectors, include Governors Ukur Yatani and Salim Mvurya.
Mr Athuok said that the necessary steps would be taken with the respective County, National Assembly and Senate speakers and the IEBC to declare the seats vacant and for by-elections to be called.
He said that a resolution that the MPs be expelled would subsequently be sent to the Registrar of Political Parties, the Speakers of Senate and National Assembly and County assemblies.
Mr Mvurya has been unapologetic over his statement that he will work with Jubilee and has asked his critics in ODM to stop nagging him after his decision to ditch the party.
Police officers were deployed to the rural home of Karachuonyo MP James Rege soon after his defection from ODM to the Jubilee Party during its launch on September 10.
LINKS WITH JUBILEE
Mr Rege was the only ODM lawmaker from Nyanza — Mr Odinga’s stronghold — who was introduced by Deputy President William Ruto at the Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi, as having defected.
The MP had indicated that he was unlikely to secure the ODM ticket even if he remained in the party because of his perceived links with Jubilee.
Meanwhile, ODM leader Raila Odinga has asked party leaders to end internal wrangles as this could ruin its chances of winning elections next year.
Speaking to delegates and other leaders at Taveta county offices on arrival in Taita-Taveta County on Tuesday, Mr Odinga said continued wrangles among ODM leaders and supporters would not augur well for the party.
“We don’t want to hear about wrangles and divisions any more. As you know, it is only 10 months to the elections. Let us become friends, let us resolve our differences in a friendly manner,” he said. He asked ODM supporters to “vote six-piece”, saying he did not want “dots”. He meant voters should cast their ballots for ODM candidates for president, governor, woman reps, senator, MPs and MCAs.
Mr Odinga’s visit to the region comes in the wake of differences between Governor John Mruttu and Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu, who has declared interest in the governor’s seat. The differences played out even in Mr Odinga’s presence.
Different groups welcomed the party leader to the town. Mr Odinga is on a three-day tour of the county after which he will head to Kwale, where Governor Salim Mvurya has indicated he is headed to Jubilee Party.
On Tuesday, Mr Mwadeghu did not speak when Mr Odinga held talks with the party delegates. However, Mr Mruttu asked “ODM members who are not with us” to declare their stand early enough to enable the party to organise itself ahead of the elections.
Mr Odinga once again said that the party nominations would be free and fair and urged those who would lose to support the winners.
He said that ODM is a party with social democratic policies, whose main ideology is “live and let live”.
“In our party we want to bring about a society that is mindful of others; the sick, poor people and orphaned children. We want to create employment and empower women. We don’t want to see women discriminated against merely because they are women, we want gender equality,” he said. “We want to end tribalism.”
Additional reporting by Daniel Nyassy and Lucy Mkanyika.
