You will not remove us from the party defiant ODM members

A section of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members who are to be expelled now insist that they are here to stay.

Joseph Nyambori and Festos Mapesa, who were recommended for expulsion alongside Migori Governor Okoth Obado, termed a report by the party’s disciplinary committee as baseless.

They had been accused of gross misconduct and violation of the party rules.

The committee also stated that Governor Obado has continuously been disobedient, further accusing him of openly opposing the party in the recent Migori senatorial by-election by backing a rival candidate.

“He has embarrassed the party and the party leader… he has also been campaigning for another candidate outside of the party… we summoned him to come yet he ignored all sittings,” the committee chairperson Joseph Muniko said.

The final decision on the recommended expulsion lies in the hands of ODM’s national disciplinary committee.

Migori County ODM party Chairman Philip Makabongo added that the recent charges against the governor have also tainted the name of the party on whose ticket he was elected.

In 2016, Festos Mapesa was among six other ODM officials who were suspended over claims of working closely with politicians who were not members of the party.