Mbadi says ODM will continue enforcing discipline

Homa Bay, 

Friday September 8. 2023

KNA by Davis Langat

ODM Party National Chairman John Mbadi has said that the party would not back down in its efforts to bring sanity in the party by expelling rebels.

Mbadi said the decision made by the party's National Executive Council to expel five legislators they considered rebels was the right move.

ODM disciplined five of its members by delisting them from the party register on allegations of supporting the rival parties and violating the party's constitution.

Those who faced the wrath of the party were accused of working with President William Ruto's government.

The five ousted are Elisha Ochieng’ Odhiambo (Gem), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Gideon Ochanda(Bondo), Tom Ojienda (Senator of Kisumu County) and Phelix Odiwuor (Lang’ata).

Mbadi said the party is ready to counter any attempts by the ‘rebel’ MPs to cling to the ODM party.

The party also resolved to revoke the nomination of four Kisumu MCAs-Caroline Opar, Kennedy Ajwang, Peter Obaso and Regina Kizito for gross misconduct.

Other rebel MPs were instructed to write apology letters and pay fines of various amounts.

Mbadi expressed confidence that any appeals against the party's decision would not be successful.

“The party reached the decision after thorough consultations. We will remove them from the party because they violated the rules,” Mbadi said.

Speaking during a press interview, Mbadi defended ODM for making the decision of expelling the MPs saying they had already openly defied the party advisory and disciplinary committee.

He said before the rebel legislators were elected, they read the party rules and agreed to abide before they signed them.

“The code of conduct they signed was an agreement to comply with the party rules. The leaders unfortunately blatantly disobeyed the party guidelines,” Mbadi said.

Mbadi alleged that some of the rebels showed disrespect to the disciplinary committee.

He said some of them were expelled because they failed to heed the summonses and instead sent lawyers.

The party disciplinary committee had wanted the MPs to present themselves before it instead of sending representatives.

Mbadi said MPs like Mark Nyamita (Uriri) and Paul Abuor (Rongo) were able to explain themselves and therefore they were only fined.

“They were given ample time to appear before the committee. They should have obeyed the calls by the party,” he said.

Courtesy; KNA