Details of Ruto Meeting with Expelled ODM MPs
President William Ruto conferred with five expelled Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) legislators on Wednesday, a week after their expulsion from the party.
At the State House meeting in Nairobi, Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Phelix Odiwuor ‘Jalang’o’ (Lang’ata), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda were accompanied by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
The five members were expelled for siding with President Ruto against the ODM party.
A source with knowledge of the situation revealed to PoliticalPulseChat that legislators agreed to continue working with the Kenya Kwanza government to enhance development initiatives in their respective regions.
The MPs vowed to continue with the agenda despite any consequences imposed by the ODM party.
Photos that surfaced on social media depicted the leaders situated at a roundtable discussion with the Head of State sharing a lighthearted moment.
ALSO READ: Tribunal Suspends ODM’s Decision to Expel MPs
The meeting occurred after the Political Parties Tribunal suspended the expulsion of the five legislators, stating that the new order will remain in effect until the 20th of September, 2023, when the application challenging their expulsion will be decided.
In addition to preventing the Registrar of Political Parties from implementing the changes, the Tribunal prevented the ODM party from removing them from their positions on parliamentary committees.
The MPs petitioned the Tribunal to block the action last week, alleging that it was a political witch hunt based on their relationship with President Ruto.
On the other hand, ODM party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna defended the party’s decision to expel the legislators, stating that they had disregarded the party’s policies.
He accused the members of tarnishing the party’s reputation through their embrace of the president.
“You people know that every time they speak, they remain adamant on their stand against party programs and embrace the meeting with the president,” Sifuna said during a media interview on Tuesday.
Details of Ruto Meeting with Expelled ODM MPs
