Ruto’s Meeting with Expelled ODM MPs
Ruto’s Meeting with Expelled ODM MPs
Ruto’s Meeting with Expelled ODM MPs
President William Ruto met with five Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs on Wednesday, a week after they were ousted from the party.Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo joined Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Phelix Odiwuor ‘Jalang’o’ (Lang’ata), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda at the State House meeting in Nairobi.
The five members were expelled for siding with President Ruto rather than the ODM party.According to a source close to the situation, legislators decided to continue working with the Kenya Kwanza government to improve development projects in their respective regions.
The MPs resolved to press on with the agenda regardless of any sanctions imposed by the ODM party.Social media photos showed the leaders seated in a roundtable discussion as they shared a light moment with the Head of State.
The meeting comes after the Political Parties Tribunal halted the five MPs’ expulsion, stating that the new order will remain in effect until the application challenging their expulsion is decided on September 20, 2023.The Tribunal also prevented the Registrar of Political Parties from making the modifications, and so prevented the ODM party from removing them from their positions on Parliamentary committees.Last Monday, the MPs petitioned the Tribunal to prevent the move, alleging a political witch hunt based on their relationship with President Ruto.On the other hand, ODM party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna justified the party’s decision to expel the politicians, claiming that the lawmakers disobeyed the party’s policy.
He accused the members of tarnishing the party’s reputation by enthusiastically embracing their meetings with the president.”You know that every time they speak, they remain steadfast in their opposition to party programs and embrace the meeting with the president,” Sifuna said in a press conference on Tuesday.
