- He said a party can only be strong by members registering and following its rules and regulations.
- Raila said he was not against ODM rebels going to State House, but they did not inform the party.
Image: RAILA/ X
Opposition leader Raila Odinga has defended the recent move by the Orange Democratic Movement to expel rebel leaders.
Raila said despite the opposition toning down and allowing bi-partisan talks with Kenya Kwanza, they will not allow their “members to be stolen through the window.”
“We are in talks between Azimio and Kenya Kwanza but our partners have decided to go through the window and steal our members. That is being a traitor,” Raila said.
He said party discipline and strength of the ODM party as the cornerstone of Azimio coalition is key for the talks.
“Any coalition is as strong as the strength of each party. It is important that ODM as the pillar of Azimio must be strong,” Raila said.
He said a party can only be strong by members registering and following its rules and regulations, in addition to working as a team.
“No party can move when we don't have respect for and following laws. When we decide as a party to move in a direction and others decided to follow individual choices, then discipline has to be enforced,” he said.
Raila said he was not against ODM rebels going to State House, but they did not inform the party over their decision, and that development is sought through Parliament and law and not in the House on the Hill.
“They claim they are going to State House to seek development, what development? Development comes through the law and in Parliament,” he said.
“Once they leave those night meetings they start antagonising us. They are traitors who have gone against the mandate of voters,” he said.
Raila challenged the rebels expelled and disciplined by the party to seek fresh mandate from voters on their new vehicles if they think they are politically mature.
“They have gone against the people's mandate as traitors and we won't tolerate them. If they feel like they want to go back to Parliament I dare them to resign and seek fresh mandate with their new parties,” he said.
He said those expelled from the party are done and three legislators fined will cease from being members for a year as they gauge their loyalty to the party before they are allowed back.
“They are like in purgatory and they will have to redeem themselves first before we see if they are allowed back in the party,” he said.
On Wednesday ODM fined Uriri MP Mark Nyamita and his Rongo counterpart Paul Abuor Sh1 million each for working with President William Ruto and supporting the Finance Bill.
The two are among other rebel elected leaders from the party who also faced allegations of violation of the party constitution and the Political Parties Act 2011 by openly associating with and supporting activities of a rival political party, and opposed lawful decisions/resolutions made by the party organs.
ODM in a statement said the two legislators should “offer written apology to the party within seven days. The two will be required to pay a fine of Sh1 million each within sixty days.”
Raila was speaking in Migori town on Friday during the ODM delegates meetings where he also meet elders and opinion leaders from the county.
John Ben Omollo, the chairman of Migori Luo Council of Elders and Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko said rebel legislators were out to wreck the Luo unity and they will still be received with suspicion even if they come back to the party.
“We are united as Luos and we will not be divided. We have been fighting for long for freedom in Kenya and those leaders who have joined those who killed our sons have no place among us,” Omollo said.
Ayacko said the party might have forgiven some rebel leaders, but “when we will be making our party affairs they should stand aside. They will create tension and disloyalty among us. They have been harassing party members with police and government.”
Other leaders who attended the meeting included Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, former Laikipia Governor Nderitu Muriithi, former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, Suna West MP Peter Masara, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Awendo MP Walter Owino and Migori speaker Owino Likowa.