Tag: ODM News

ODM Did Not Expel Rebel MPs, Says Party Chairman

Posted on by Ozymandias

ODM Chairman and Nominated MP John Mbadi has clarified that the party did not expel five rebel MPs, as has been widely reported.

Mbadi said that the party believes the five lawmakers have left the party, citing Article 14(b) of the Political Parties Act, which states that members are presumed to have resigned if they further the agenda of other parties.

“We are not expelling these members. We are saying that they have resigned from the party,” Mbadi said on Spice FM.

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

The ODM party claims that the five are rebelling because they have been openly having affairs with President William Ruto.

However, the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) has temporarily halted their expulsion from the ODM party pending a hearing and decision on the matter.

The PPDT is expected to hear the case on September 22.

In the meantime, the five MPs remain members of the ODM party, but they are not allowed to participate in party activities.

Jalang’o, 5 other ODM rebels double down, meet and vow to work with Ruto

Posted on by Ozymandias

Opposition MPs, including those who were recently expelled from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), met with President William Ruto on Wednesday. The meeting took place at State House in Nairobi and lasted for two hours.

The MPs who attended the meeting were Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Phelix Odiwuor (Lang’ata), and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda. They were joined by Interior PS Raymond Omollo.

The MPs’ meeting with President Ruto comes days after ODM leader Raila Odinga vowed to ensure that those who were expelled from the party lose their seats. Raila accused the MPs of treachery for meeting with the president.

However, the MPs have appealed to the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal, which on Tuesday revoked their expulsion until the hearing and decision of their case.

A source who was privy to the meeting said that the MPs reaffirmed their commitment to working with the government and supporting the development plans in the Nyanza region.

“They have said they will continue working with government for the benefit of their region and as politicians, they will chart their political path no matter the consequences,” said the source.

The MPs also reportedly invited President Ruto to make another development tour of Luo Nyanza. They praised the president for taking action to address long-standing issues in the sugar sector and pledged to support the sugar law that will be discussed in Parliament on Thursday.

The MPs also praised the president for the seamless launch of flights to Migori County, which was made possible after their earlier interactions with the government.

The meeting between the MPs and President Ruto is seen as a sign of growing cooperation between the government and the opposition. It remains to be seen how this cooperation will impact the upcoming general election.

ODM Rejects PPDT Order Suspending Expulsion Of Three Of It’s Members

Posted on by Dennis Elnino

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has rejected a recent order issued by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) that temporarily suspended the party’s decision to expel three lawmakers.

The three lawmakers are Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda and MPs Elisha Odhiambo of Gem and Felix ‘Jalang’o’ Odiwuor of Lang’ata.

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna said the party will not abide by the order, which he described as “illegal” and “unwarranted”.

“We have a right to expel members who violate our party’s constitution and the Political Parties Act,” Sifuna said. “We will not allow the PPDT to interfere in our internal affairs.”

The PPDT order was issued on Tuesday, September 12, following a case filed by the three lawmakers challenging their expulsion from ODM.

The lawmakers alleged that they were expelled for political reasons and that the party’s disciplinary process was unfair.

The PPDT order will remain in force until a full hearing of the case takes place.

The hearing is scheduled to be held on October 10.

Sifuna’s rejection of the PPDT order is a sign of the growing tension between ODM and the tribunal.

The tribunal has issued several rulings against ODM in recent months, including one that ordered the party to reinstate former party leader Raila Odinga as its presidential candidate.

ODM has refused to comply with that ruling, and it is now appealing it to the High Court.

The latest dispute between ODM and the PPDT is likely to further strain relations between the two bodies.

It remains to be seen whether the PPDT will be able to enforce its order against ODM, or whether the party will continue to defy it.