Nakuru, Kenya: Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama has ran into trouble with officials of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the party that sponsored him to Parliament, over his support for the Jubilee government.
ODM officials in Nakuru County have petitioned the ODM headquarters to commence disciplinary action against Mr Arama for being disrespectful to the party and its national leadership.
A delegation of party officials from the county delivered a written petition to the party headquarters and later met party leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi last week. They said they want the MP to quit the party.
“We met the party leader and expressed our concerns about the MP who has been disrespectful and arrogant,” said the party’s sub-branch chairman Dennis Okomol.
Mr Okomol was accompanied to Nairobi by three Members of the County Assembly, led by minority leader Daniel Ambale, Kivumbini Ward Representative Vitalis Okello and Naivasha’s Peter Palang’a.
The leaders want disciplinary action taken against Arama, arguing that ODM members in Nakuru Town West had lost faith in him because of his persistent and unwarranted attacks and open disrespect to the party’s national officials.
“Arama has used public forums attended by Jubilee leaders to attack Raila and other party leaders, something that does not please those who voted him to Parliament,” said Okomol.
The petition, signed by a section of voters from his constituency and local party officials, also demanded an audit of the Constituency Development Fund to ascertain how money allocated in the 2013-2014 financial year was used.
Fresh elections
A week ago during the burial of nominated MCA Damaris Mbuthia (Jubilee), Arama castigated ODM leaders for their push for national referendum, saying he was ready to quit the party and defend his parliamentary seat without ODM’s support.
He said he would continue supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta since Jubilee is the Government of the day. “Even if they kick me out of ODM, I am ready to seek fresh mandate from the people who voted for me because they are my employers,” the MP said.
On Monday, Arama told a public function that CORD leaders were still bitter after losing the 2013 elections. He said he would not support the push for a referendum.
“CORD has not been of any help to me and the people who elected me, so why should I support them?” Arama told The Standard on Sunday yesterday. He said it was high time Raila realised there was a functioning Government that he ought to respect.
Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri invited his Nakuru West counterpart to join Jubilee if he is kicked out of ODM. “My friend Arama, you should not feel worried if you get kicked out of ODM because we will welcome you at Jubilee with open arms,” he said.
Arama’s change of heart comes at a time when the Opposition is pushing for a national referendum. ODM has warned its errant MPs that they risk losing their seats should they fail to support the push for a referendum.
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A number of ODM legislators from the Coast and others in Nyanza have been quietly opposing the referendum push.
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