Orange party cracks whip on defectors, sets stage for mini polls

ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga addresses party supporters at Mama Ngina Drive during the celebration of ODM's 10 years anniversary in Mombasa County on Saturday 10th September 2016. [Photo/Kelvin Karani/Standard]

ODM wants 13 governors and MPs who recently defected to Jubilee Party stripped of their party membership, signalling a long-drawn out battle for political survival of the rebels.

Raila Odinga’s party activated the disciplinary mechanism that could culminate in the targeted party rebels losing their seats if their names are struck off the party’s register.

ODM, Wiper Democratic Movement and Ford Kenya parties that form the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy have scoffed at 25 of their members who have switched allegiance to the ruling coalition.

The party's disciplinary committee has written to 13 members who have publicly declared their defection to another political party to show cause why they should not be de-registered from the party.

Those targeted are governors Ukur Yatani (Marsabit), Salim Mvurya (Kwale), Deputy Governor Joash Maangi (Kisii), MPs Steven Kariuki (Mathare), Mpuri Aburi (Tigania East), Gideon Mung'aro (Kilifi North), Mustafa Iddi (Kilifi South), Cyprian Kubai (Igembe Central) and James Rege (Karachuonyo).

Others include Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town West), John Waluke (Sirisia) nominated MP Isaac Mwaura and Kwale County Woman Representative Zainabu Chidzuga.

The party's Disciplinary Committee chairman, Fred Athuok, yesterday told The Standard that the law on political parties was clear and that they would send the resolution to the Registrar of Political Parties. In letters written to each of the 13 members and copied to Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung'u, Mr Athuok cited Section (5)C of the Political Parties Act as having been blatantly violated by their action.

"This is simply a by-election. The law is clear that you cannot belong to two political parties at the same time. If you participate or join another political party while still a member of a political party, you are deemed to have joined that party," said Athuok.

The letters have been sent to individual members via registered post and they are expected to respond in writing within seven days, failing which the committee will recommend to the party's National Executive Committee their expulsion for violating the law and the constitution of the party.

In effecting the expulsion, necessary steps will be taken with the respective county, speakers and the election body petitioned to declare the seats vacant and necessitate by-elections.

Even though both ODM and Ford Kenya threatened to kick the rebels out, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka challenged the defectors from his party to resign to test their popularity in a by-election.

"I want to challenge those who defected from Wiper party to resign formally and seek re-election. It is immoral to continue earning from the taxpayer almost Sh1 million when you have joined another political party other than the one that sponsored you," he said.

MPs Kisoi Munyao (Mbooni), Joe Mutambu (Mwingi Central), John Munuve (Mwingi North) and Regina Ndambuki (Kilome) decamped from Wiper. Ford Kenya lost Senator John Munyes (Turkana), Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) and Nicholas Ngikor (Turkana East) who were paraded during the Jubilee Party launch.

Section 14(5) of the Political Parties Act states that a person who, while being a member of a political party, joins another political party, in any way or manner, publicly advocates for the formation of another political party or promotes the ideology, interests or policies of another political party shall be deemed to have resigned from the previous political party.

The Constitution in Article 103 states that the office of an MP becomes vacant if, having been elected to Parliament as a member of a political party, the member resigns from that party or is deemed to have resigned from the party or as an independent candidate, the member joins a political party.

The Registrar of Political Parties said parties must first follow the internal dispute resolution mechanism.