Raila Gives Jalang’o, Other Rebel ODM MPs Ultimatum
Raila Odinga, the ex-Prime Minister, has urged Lang’ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, also known as Jalang’o, to run for re-election if he intends to collaborate with the governing United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Addressing a recruitment event for ODM in Nairobi on Sunday, the ex-prime Minister disclosed that he had contacted the dissenting Members of Parliament, advising them to pursue re-election before forming alliances with the governing party.
“We have agreed that all those elected as MPs in our parties have a term of five years. If you want to leave ODM and join UDA, then leave Parliament and return to the people to be re-elected under UDA,” He sternly stated.
“In Nairobi, we have Lang’ata MP and you know the rest. We have told them that we are returning to the ground and if you get re-elected on UDA, that is fine but we must go back to the election.”
Since the previous year, the political party has been engaged in a conflict with legislators whom it alleges have defected to UDA.
Other legislators in the group comprise Tom Ojienda, who represents Kisumu in the Senate, Caroli Omondi, the Member of Parliament for Suba, Gideon Ochanda, the MP for Bondo, and Elisha Odhiambo, who represents Gem in the National Assembly.
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ODM’s National Executive Committee expelled five Members of Parliament as the party found that their actions were contrary to the official party stance.
Shortly thereafter, a conflict unfolded among the factions as legislators struggled to retain their positions, a request that was approved by Desma Nungo, the chairperson of the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal.
“Pending the hearing and determination of the suits, the office of the Registrar of Political Parties is barred from effecting and enforcing the decision of ODM by removing the complainants as members of the party,” Nungo ruled at the time.
Subsequently, the Members of Parliament, having subsequently conferred with President William Ruto, asserted that they saw no need to apologize to anyone.
They additionally asserted that there was nothing improper about meeting the Head of State, contending that other party members had also met the leader without facing expulsion.
The group encountered Ruto at State House in September of the previous year.
Raila Gives Jalang’o, Other Rebel ODM MPs Ultimatum