President Ruto meets expelled ODM MPs
President William Ruto today hosted the expelled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Members of Parliament (MPs) at State House, Nairobi.
The lawmakers were expelled from the party last week for defying the party position and gross misconduct.
The lawmakers who include Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Felix Odiwuor alias ‘Jalang’o’ (Lang’ata), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda met the president who was accompanied by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
The latest development comes barely a day after the court temporarily stopped the Raila Odinga-led party from expelling Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda and MPs Elisha Odhiambo (Gem) and Felix 'Jalang'o' Odiwuor (Lang'ata) from the party pending hearing and determination.
“In the interim and pending the hearing and determination of this Application, this Honourable Tribunal hereby issues interim conservatory orders staying the implementation and/or execution of the decision of the 1st Respondent to expel the Complainant/Applicants, from the Orange Democratic Movement Party," Political Parties Disputes Tribunal chairperson Desma Nungo said in court papers on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
The decision by the court followed after the trio challenged ODM's directive. According to court papers, the three claimed that ODM's decision to expel them from the party violated the constitution of Kenya and the party's constitution.
The trio also claimed that the disciplinary proceedings before recommendations were adopted were tampered with illegalities and were not constitutional.
"This notification of expulsion and deregistration from the party is shocking to the Complainant because he was not given a chance to be heard on the subject complaints. Neither was he given an opportunity to defend himself nor informed or notified of any decision and reasons as to why the 1st Respondent's National Executive Committee has taken such a draconian measure.
"Should the office of the registrar of political parties (2nd Respondent) act on the illegal and unprocedural decision of the 1st Respondent to expel the Complainants, they will be greatly prejudiced and their rights would be violated through a choreographed disciplinary process that was flawed, biased and unprocedural from the beginning to the end," they argued.
