- Mbadi said they expect some of the MPs to appeal the decision.
- He, however, expressed confidence that the party will win.
Image: ROBERT OMOLLO
ODM will not retreat in its efforts to bring sanity to the party by kicking out rebels, the party's national chairman John Mbadi has said.
Mbadi said the decision by the party's National Executive Council to expel five legislators they considered rebels will not be backed down.
ODM decided to kick out five of its members from the party register over accusations of supporting the rival outfits and violating the party's constitution.
The five are Elisha Ochieng’ Odhiambo (Gem), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Gideon Ochanda(Bondo), Tom Ojienda (Senator of Kisumu County) and Phelix Odiwuor (Lang’ata).
Mbadi said the party is ready to counter any attempts by the ‘rebel’ MPs to continue staying in ODM.
The party also resolved to revoke the nomination of four Kisumu MCAs.
They are Caroline Opar, Kennedy Ajwang, Peter Obaso and Regina Kizito for gross misconduct.
Other rebel MPs were instructed to write apology letters and pay fines of various amounts.
Mbadi said they expect some of the MPs to appeal the decision.
He, however, expressed confidence that the party will win.
“The party reached the decision after thorough consultations. We'll go the full hog to remove them from the party because they violated the rules,” Mbadi said.
Speaking during an interview on Ramogi FM, Mbadi defended ODM for making the decision saying they had already openly defied the party advisory and disciplinary committee.
He said before the rebel legislators were elected, they read the party rules and agreed before they signed to abide by them.
“The code of conduct they signed was an agreement to comply with the party rules. The leaders unfortunately or blatantly disobeyed the party guidelines,” Mbadi said.
According to Mbadi, the rebel MPs defended themselves in different ways.
He claimed that some of them even showed disrespect to the committee.