Two 'rebel' ANC members risk expulsion

Two Amani National Congress members risk being expelled from the party over criticising the party leader.

The National Executive Council-cum-Parliamentary Group meets on Tuesday to recommend the formation of a committee to investigate their conduct.

REBELS

Some party members want Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi punished for openly criticising their party leader Mr Musalia Mudavadi for skipping Nasa leader Raila Odinga’s ‘swearing in’ ceremony at Uhuru Park on January 30.

Initially, Vihiga Senator George Khaniri was targeted but his name was dropped. 

According to a memo to all party branch chairpersons across the country, Mr Mudavadi called the meeting to investigate the legislators' conduct.

The legislators' remarks or actions were considered subversive to ANC ideals with Mr Mudavadi saying he would not allow any member to fight the party by organising meetings without the approval of the secretariat, a move some members have described as “gagging orders.”

“We do not recognise those meetings and the purported resolutions. You are strictly advised to avoid meetings that have not been communicated to you by the party secretariat. Anyone attending such functions will be dealt with accordingly,” Mr Mudavadi said.

DISCIPLINARY

It has emerged that the meeting could recommend the formation of a disciplinary committee to investigate the MPs’ behaviour and possibly recommend their removal from the party, a move that would see them lose their parliamentary seats.

However, Mr Malala told the Nation that he was aware of the move and dared the party to initiate it.

"It is unfortunate that dissent is being criminalised in the party. If standing up with other Kenyans to demand for electoral Justice is the cause of all these, then I am ready to face the Kakamega electorate again," Mr Malala said on Monday.

"But I will remain steadfast in supporting other progressive Kenyans in their quest to ensure that elections are not stolen with the abandon we have witnessed in the recent past."

COALITION

The Senator also noted that his wars in ANC started when he said the party was in Nasa to stay.

“But why should they be offended by that if indeed they are committed to the coalition? Where do they belong?” Mr Malala posed as he told Mr Mudavadi to take charge of the party.

Mr Osotsi said that Mr Mudavadi’s continued silence over the ‘swearing in’, has not helped matters in his party.

“Our party has lost direction because our leader is silent. We need him to come out and lead us,” Mr Osotsi said.

He described the planned disciplinary meeting as an attempt to gag party members and stop them from expressing themselves freely. 

CRITICAL

The three MPs (Mr Malala, Mr Osotsi and Mr Khaniri), who attended the Uhuru Park event, have been critical of their party leader’s failure to attend the ‘oathing’ of Mr Odinga as the people’s president, to protest the conduct of the 2017 presidential election.

The event was skipped by other Nasa principals –  Mr Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), who was also expected to be ‘sworn in’ by virtue of him being Mr Odinga’s deputy in the election, and Mr Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya).

The strongly worded memo came after a meeting at city hotel on February 13, which passed off as ANC’s Women league gathering, where it is alleged that unsavoury remarks were made against the party leader and the secretariat.

“We will not hesitate to take appropriate disciplinary action against any party member found to have been behind this meeting,” the ANC boss said.

POSITIONS

“One of these individuals purports to pass himself off as the party secretary-general. For avoidance of doubt, our secretary-general is Mr Barrack Muluka, who was duly appointed following the laid down procedures, in the wake of resignation of Mr Osotsi.”

This is in apparent hit at Mr Osotsi, who attended the meeting and even made remarks. The nominated MP, however, said that such meetings are meant to popularise the party.

Mr Osotsi, who has contested the appointment of Mr Muluka, said he would not comment on the matter as it is yet to be determined by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal.