Toe the party line or leave, Mbadi to rebel ODM MPs

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party chairman, John Mbadi, has fired a warning shot to rebel MPs in the party to toe the line or leave.

Speaking in Kisii on Sunday, Mbadi said that while ODM hierarchy is keen on reconciling any differences within its organs, it will not sit back and let a few individuals cast the party into a state of disorientation.

“There are some leaders in ODM who began to shift their allegiance recently and we are keen on sorting that out,” he said.

“If someone does not want to work for the betterment of the party he should leave. We will try to resolve any outstanding issues but if dialogue fails then they should leave because we cannot allow two or three people to cage the party. ODM belongs to wananchi and not leaders.”

Mbadi’s pronouncement seems to have been directed at a section that has begun campaign to move the region to Jubilee.

Reports indicate that the exodus from Jubilee to ODM is being orchestrated by Kitutu Chache Member of Parliament Richard Onyonka and Senator Chris Obure.

Early this month, President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with MCAs from Kisii and Nyamira Counties at State House here in Nairobi in a bid to gain ground in regions considered ODM zones.

In the 2013 elections, ODM leader Raila Odinga garnered 236,831 votes from Kisii County against Uhuru Kenyatta’s 95,596, while in Nyamira County Raila got 121,590 against Uhuru’s 54,071.

It is for this reason that President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have moved to assert influence in the region in a bid to win voters over to Jubilee.

But, despite the efforts Mbadi has said that they are prepared to send Uhuru packing in 2017 by ensuring Raila Odinga wins the presidential election.

“Jubilee has been reduced to a government of empty promises that cannot be fulfilled. With just months to the next elections, they have not implemented their promises to the people of Kisii,” said Mbadi.

He promised locals that nominations for the Nyacheki county representative position, which was left vacant following the death of the then MCA Peter Nyaega will be free and fair.

The event was also attended by Kisii Governor James Ongwae, Nominated Senator Janet Ong’era, Kabondo-Kasipul MP Silvance Osele among others.

Mbadi later met 400 ODM delegates from the Kisii to discuss party affairs.

Raila has also in the past moved to retain his support in the region by urging leaders to resist attempts by Jubilee to win them over saying the Jubilee government has done little for them over the past four years.

Additional Reporting by @benjaminwafula