ODM Suspends MP for Attending Ruto Meeting

Minority Whip in the National Assembly Junet Mohammed (centre) ODM leader Rails Odinga (right) and the leader of the Minority in the National Assembly John Mbadi address the press at Orange House on March 18, 2018.
Minority Whip in the National Assembly Junet Mohammed (centre) ODM leader Rails Odinga (right) and the leader of the Minority in the National Assembly John Mbadi address the press at Orange House on March 18, 2018.
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The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has suspended Kilifi North Member of Parliament Owen Baya who was accused of switching camps to Deputy President William Ruto's Tanga Tanga brigade.

Baya was among the leaders who attended a meeting held by DP Ruto to strategise on the upcoming Msambweni by-election. 

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna made the announcement while speaking at the party's National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Athi River on Saturday, September 26. 

Baya also lost his seat as the party’s Deputy Organising Secretary. This means that he was also ejected from being a member of the NEC. 

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Kilifi North MP Owen Baya addresses the media at his office in 2019
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ODM lamented that Baya had betrayed the party and released him to join DP Ruto's bandwagon. He joins colleagues Bado Twalib (Jomvu MP) and Aisha Jumwa (Malindi) in the list of rebel ODM MPs. Twalib and Jumwa were suspended in July 2020

Baya is vouching for Ruto's supposedly preferred candidate, Feisal Bader, to replace the late Msambweni MP and ODM member Suleiman Dori. Dori passed away in March 2020. 

On Friday, September 25, ODM stated that it was ready to face Ruto who was seemingly planning to field an independent candidate in Msambweni. Ruto made the decision after Jubilee opted against fielding a candidate in the by-election due to the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga.

Ruto earlier on 'dumped' Mariam Sharlet Akinyi after she quit ODM for Jubilee. Mariam assured her followers that she would run on an independent ticket. 

“Ruto is reckless and should desist from making remarks that may create more chaos in the country. He should be tamed. However, we are grateful to the President for respecting the good relationship between him and our party leader,” ODM Chairman John Mbadi stated on Friday evening, September 25. 

ODM leader Raila Odinga added that in the coming months, his party would confront the beneficiaries of the proceeds of corruption who are arraigned against the agenda for a radical socio-economic transformation, job creation, and equitable distribution of prosperity.

Deputy President William Ruto with Msambweni parliamentary aspirant Feisal Abdallah Bader
Deputy President William Ruto with Msambweni parliamentary aspirant Feisal Abdallah Bader at his Karen home on September 24, 2020
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He reiterated that a referenudm was underway and that the BBI would be enacted despite opposition from different quarters.

“The forces that have always opposed change -- the voices of impunity that thrive on corruption and outright lies -- have already lined up against the report. Those dark forces are already working hard to cause fear and disharmony among our citizens. 

They are corrupting our people with stolen money and they are beating the drums of war all in a bid to scuttle change. We must stop them from dragging the country into anarchy," Odinga stated. 

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