The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party, today, staged a renewed bid to punish perceived party rebels in the National Assembly.
In a statement that was made on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi warned the Kenya Kwanza coalition MPs against frustrating the effort of the party to put its house in order.
Wandayi acknowledged that he made a statement that was directed at the leadership of the August House.
However, Wandayi disputed media reports that ODM had formally written a letter to Speaker Moses Wetangula asking for his help in the matter which appeared to have hit a snag.
Previous attempts by the Orange party to make changes to its House leadership were on February 22, 2023, defeated during a meeting of the Committee on Selection.
“The statement was expressly made on the floor of the House, and it was not a letter written to the Speaker of the National Assembly,” Opiyo Wandai explained.
When contacted for comment, ODM Party Secretary General Edwin Sifuna explained that he did not generate any letter as far as the punishment of the rebel MPs was concerned.
Sifuna, however, explained that communication from the party is clearly defined by the various structures provided within the party’s organogram.
“The questions arising from the so-called letter from ODM to Speaker Moses Wetangula can only be answered by the people who wrote the letter, not me,” Sifuna stated.
Among the MPs that ODM is seeking to de-whip from various committees of the National Assembly include Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent) Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o (Lang’ata), Paul Abuor (Rongo), John Owino (Awendo) and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.
On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, ODM de-whipped a number of Kisumu County Members of the County Assembly who visited Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
The eleven Members of the Kisumu County Assembly included Vincent Odhiambo (MCA for Central Nyakach Ward), Gard Olima (South – West Nyakach), Regina Kizito (Muhoroni /Koru), Tom Nyaoke (North Nyakach and Kolwa Central’s Calvin Oraro.
Others were Tom Onditi (Ombeyi), Habil Nyasuna (Masogo Nyang’oma), Millicent Omuya (North Seme), Oiko Pete (Kabonyo Kanyagwal), Fredrick Odari (Chemelil Tamu) and Lawino Opar.
