ODM warns party MCAs over plans to oppose Sonko ouster

Opposition leader Raila Odinga congratulates MCAs David Mberia (right) and Peter Imwatok at a Nairobi Hotel. [Josphat Thiong'o, Standard]

Embattled Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko may be forced to change tack to fight a planned motion after the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) put its troops at the County Assembly on notice.

The party has now written to the County Assembly Minority Leader David Mberia alerting him that its Nairobi coordinating committee is observing the behaviour of its MCAs “with interest.”

The letter inadvertently addresses revelations that MCAs had planned a vacation in Dubai to deny the Assembly the requisite two-thirds quorum when an impeachment vote against Sonko comes to the house.

In a letter copied to the Orange Party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and the Head of Secretariat Oduor Ong’wen, members have been reminded that party sponsorship is a privilege that can be withheld subject to loyalty and discipline.

“You are hereby instructed to rein in the wayward members with immediate effect. If the affected members do not stop immediately, the party will without notice commence disciplinary processes against them,” the letter reads in part.

In the letter, the party says it is concerned that their MCAs were resorting to “reckless pursuit of self-aggrandizement at the expense of the general public welfare of Nairobi citizens and disregard for the ODM party position”.

Last week, a section of Nairobi County ward representatives exposed a plan hatched by 18 of their counterparts in a bid to rescue Sonko from impeachment.

The 18 are said to have planned an 11-day trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) funded by the taxpayer to ensure that the assembly did not have quorum to pass a censure motion against Governor Sonko.

Reports from Orange party now indicates some of its members have been secretly meeting with those who have planned to travel to save Sonko should an impeachment motion be brought before the house.

The letter signed by ODM Nairobi Branch Chairman and Makadara MP George Aladwa puts the MCAs on notice that they should only take instructions from the party headquarters on whether to support impeachment process or oppose it.

Loyalty and discipline

“You are instructed to remind members that party sponsorship is a privilege that can be withheld subject to loyalty and discipline,” reads part of Aladwa’s letter.

Those from the minority side, majority of whom are ODM members include Jared Okode, Maurice Gari, Osman Khalif, Francis Otieno, Nicholas Okumu, Kennedy Obuya, Kennedy Oyugi and David Okelo.

The list also includes county staff such as acting clerk Monicah Muthami, Asman John and Joseph Katoloki.

The County Assembly requires at least 82 MCAs out of the 123 members of the House to pass a censure motion. Taking out 18 out of the House would affect the number of MCAs available to vote.