Dalliance with Ruto almost cost Msambweni MP his seat
Hillary Mageka, Munira Mandano and Harrison Kivisu
Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori’s dalliance with Deputy President William Ruto almost cost him his seat in 2018.
Dori, who died yesterday, and his Malindi counterpart Aisha Jumwa, risked being expelled from the ODM party for publicly supporting Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
In December 2018, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the MPs would face disciplinary action for defying the party.
“Respect for party leadership, its organs and decisions makes a strong party. The Political Parties Act is clear on the running and management of political parties (and recommends) discipline among members,” said Sifuna.
But the rebels MPs argued that following the truce between opposition leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, they were free to associate with anyone in the spirit of “building bridges”.
While addressing a National Governing Council (NGC) meeting on March 1 2019, ODM party leader Raila Odinga warned that his truce with Uhuru was not meant to undermine the party leadership.
“We must draw the line between building our party and the handshake,” he said.
The NGC later ratified the party’s disciplinary committee decision to eject Jumwa but spared Dori after he apologised to the party.
While mourning the MP yesterday, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa, who is an ally of Ruto, described Dori as a fearless man who resisted attempts by the Orange party to arm twist him on who should be his friend(s).
During yesterday’s burial, ODM chairman John Mbadi was forced to cut short his speech when mourners heckled him for asking Ruto to take responsibility of the firearms scandal linked to his office.
But mourners shouted him down, telling him to put aside politics and allow them to grieve the their leader. Mbadi later apologised to the mourners.
