ODM chairman John Mbadi on Wednesday hit out at a section of UDA senators over the raging controversy in Siaya pitting Governor James Orengo and his deputy William Oduol.
Mbadi told off senators Boni Khalwale( Kakamega) and his Nandi counterpart Samson Cherargei over their sentiments over the impeachment process that has kicked off at the Siaya County Assembly against the DG.
On Tuesday, Nandi senator Samson Cherargei said the impeachment proceedings and removal from the ODM party of Siaya deputy governor Oduol by the MCAs were sickening.
"The impeachment of the DG is sickening and nauseating for exposing corruption in Siaya County govt," he tweeted.
"As a senate, we shall not impeach DG Oduol nor confirm impeachment proceedings from Siaya county assembly against him," he said in the tweet.
His colleague, who is the Senate majority whip Boni Khalwale was also quoted by Nation saying they were concerned by the happenings in Siaya.
"We have heard what is happening in Siaya with concern. To have reached where it has reached, there must be a problem and that's why the Senate was created," he was quoted as saying.
"We shall process it when it comes. Obviously, as the chief whip, I have a responsibility and I'll discharge it without fear or favour," he said.
But the ODM chairman on Wednesday termed as premature and suspicious, assertions by a section of the Kenya Kwanza senators that they will save Oduol at the senate.
"We find it suspicious that senators would comment on an issue that is not yet before them the Senate. The Senate is not for taking political positions over issues," he said.
"Have they even seen the grounds upon which the process is underway? Let them hold their horses and wait until the matter gets to the Senate. They are making the Senate look bad," Mbadi said.
The ODM secretary-general who is also the Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna said he will only comment on the issue when it is brought before the Senate.
"Let the county assembly deal conclusively with the matter. I will talk about it when it is in the Senate. I won't respond to every barking dog on Twitter," Sifuna said on Wednesday.
Speaking to the Star on the phone, Mbadi said the process of impeachment of the DG was not even concluded by the assembly and it is ill-advised for any senator, whether Kenya Kwanza or Azimio affiliated to discuss the matter.
"There is an elaborate impeachment process as set out in law. The assembly has to do their bit and the matter is brought to the Senate for endorsement or otherwise. This process is still underway," he said.
He also defended the assembly over the process it has undertaken so far on the Oduol's issue.
"The information we have is that the DG failed to substantiate the graft claims he had made earlier against the Siaya administration. Under such circumstances we can't vilify the assembly for doing its work," he said.
Mbadi said neither Oduol nor anyone from Siaya County has officially petitioned the party with evidence that the MCAs were compromised in any way to have come up with their verdict against the DG.
" We have not received any complaints against the MCAs. Not from the DG or any Siaya resident," he said.
The party chairman said ODM has not contradicted itself in its crusade against corruption.
"We see no contradiction because any allegations of corruption must be backed up with solid evidence. If you make any allegations, you have to offer proof," he said.
Mbadi further clarified that the party's national office was yet to receive any formal communication from its county office in Siaya regarding a decision to expel Oduol from the party.
He said the County office in Siaya has no power to expel the DG from the party but can only make such recommendations to the national office.
"We have a clear process of expelling a member from the party if his conduct is found to be unbecoming. It is only the party's national governing council that can do that," he said.
He noted that upon receipt of the formal communication, his office will write a show-cause letter to the DG and have him appear before a disciplinary committee.
" If the committee finds that he has a case to answer then the national executive committee will handle the case and give its recommendation to the national governing council to take appropriate action," he said.
Oduol on Tuesday confirmed to the Star that he is willing and ready to appear before the assembly's select Committee probing allegations facing him.
On Monday, East Asembo MCA Gordon Onguru moved a motion to impeach Oduol over allegations of abuse of office, a gross violation of the constitution and gross misconduct.
38 MCAs supported the impeachment motion against one who objected.
Three others were absent with apologies according to speaker George Okode.
The 14-member committee has ten days to hand over its report to the house while the DG and other witnesses will appear before the Select Committee on June 6th.