Osotsi suffers blow as name struck from party

Amani National Congress (ANC) founder and nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi (pictured) could lose his seat in the National Assembly after the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu struck off his name from the party’s register.

Mr Osotsi, who has had a strained relationship with ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Secretary General Barack Muluka, will know his fate after the registrar notifies the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of the new development.

In a letter by Ms Nderitu to the ANC, Osotsi ceased being a member of the party beginning Monday May 13, 2019.

“Our work is simply to strike off the name of the member from the party’s register. It simply means that he is no longer a member of ANC party. Expulsion is now the work of the party,” said Nderitu.

She further explained that once her office notifies IEBC, they will decide the next course of action for the embattled MP.

Nderitu further explained that the replacement in the National Assembly will follow the law as provided in Section 37 of the Elections Act.

“If a representative from a political party list dies, withdraws from the party list, changes parties, resigns or is expelled from his or her party during the term of the representative, the seat of the representative shall be allocated to the next candidate of the same gender on the respective political party list,” reads Section 37 of the Elections Act.

Muluka on his part told The Standard on phone the decision is final and can only be reviewed by the National Executive Council.

But Nderitu said the embattled MP still has an option of going back to the party to seek pardon and if the party is satisfied with remorse, can be considered back.