•Ojienda is among five ODM MPs who were expelled from the party.
•The five MPs were found to have violated Article 11 (1) (e) of the party constitution.
Image: FAITH MATETE
Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda has opened up about his relationship with Opposition chief Raila Odinga.
During an interview on Tuesday night, Ojienda stated that he has never disrespected Raila, who is his party leader.
"I have never disrespected my party leader, Raila Odinga. I believe that I engage in respect always," he said.
The Senator also emphasised that he is an ODM party member for life and he has no apology for that.
"I believe that voter representation is important because of its direct interaction with the people. If my party in five years will judge me harshly because I engaged with other players for the purposes of bringing development to my people, then so be it," Ojienda added.
Last week, the ODM Party National Executive Council okayed the removal of five rebel MPs from the party.
The NEC instructed the party to kick out the five from the party register for advancing the interests of rival political outfits.
The five are Elisha Ochieng’ (Gem), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Tom Ojienda (Senator, Kisumu County) and Phelix Odiwuor (Lang’ata).
They were accused of openly associating with and supporting the activities of a rival political party and for opposing lawful decisions and resolutions made by the party organs.
The NEC said for taking that stand, the lawmakers were deemed to have resigned from the ODM party.
The NEC meeting convened by Raila himself came almost a month after the renegade members appeared before the disciplinary committee to defend themselves from the accusations of gross misconduct.
According to the ODM Constitution, a disciplinary process can lead to either reprimanding the member, censuring or fining the member.
However, on Tuesday, a Court temporarily stopped the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) from expelling Senator Ojienda and MPs Elisha Odhiambo (Gem) and Felix 'Jalang'o' Odiwuor (Lang'ata) from the party.
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal gave the orders after the three challenged their expulsion over allegations of violating the party’s constitution.