Sifuna roots for party fidelity

Homa Bay,

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

KNA by Davis Langat

Orange Democratic Movement Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has warned that leaders elected on the party ticket who were disloyal would be denied the party's nomination certificates to defend their seats next during the elections.

He said those Members of Parliament who were leaning towards competing political formations would not get the party tickets regardless of their popularity.

Sifuna claimed that the rebel MPs had plans of persuading ODM leader Raila Odinga in 2026 to pardon them.

He said the pardon was aimed at securing the party tickets for defending their seats in 2027 General election.

“There are ODM MPs who have no fidelity to the party and I am reliably informed that they are planning to plead with the party leader in 2026 for forgiveness so that they get the party tickets to defend their seats in 2027,” Sifuna said.

Sifuna who spoke in Homa Bay today during a membership registration exercise vowed that he will ensure none of the rebel legislators gets ODM ticket in 2027 under any circumstances.

“I know Raila is kind hearted and may forgive them so that they are given ODM nomination certificates. But as the Secretary General of ODM, I will not forgive them. I will tear any nomination certificates they may secure because they disrespected the party,” Sifuna said.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi echoed the sentiments saying anybody elected on an ODM ticket must be loyal to the party in order to propagate its agenda.

“We are not happy to have MPs who defy the party position. Loyalty is paramount,” Mbadi said.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga said loyalty is of paramount importance in ODM party.

“As elected leaders, we must be united solidly behind Raila Odinga to enable us to move in the same direction,” Wanga said.

The comments came after ODM failed in its attempts to expel the MPs from the party to pave way for by-elections a few months ago. This is after the legislators secured a court order allowing them to continue serving as members of the ODM party.

Courtesy; KNA