A report from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) disciplinary committee has revealed that the National Executive Committee (NEC) made three changes to the resolutions initially proposed for the removal of five Members of Parliament within the party.
The Members of Parliament who were expelled for violating the ODM party Constitution include Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Phelix Odiwuor ‘Jalang’o’ (Lang’ata), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.
According to the report seen by Kenyans.co.ke, the disciplinary committee recommended the removal of Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris from the party for going against ODM's position on the Finance Act 2023.
"Indeed during the hearing she told the Disciplinary Committee that she would defy again and vote in its support again, were the Bill to go back to the National Assembly. She was therefore not remorseful of her act," read part of the report.
"Her reasons for voting in support of the bill were many and some contradictory to each other: interest of her voters, her conscience, she is in the Housing Committee, so that government has resources, as an MP has the right to vote as she chooses. She knew ODM’s position on the finance bill but he chose to defy."
Nonetheless, ODM directed Passaris to pay a Ksh250,000 fine within 60 days and write an apology within seven days.
Further, the fines for Uriri MP Mark Nyamita and his Rongo counterpart Paul Abuor, who were accused of defying the party, were reduced from the initially recommended Ksh5 million to Ksh1 million.
The report had also proposed that both MPs should face a 12-month suspension from all parliamentary committees and be barred from any elective or appointive office within the party.
However, these recommendations were not implemented by the NEC, which instead ordered the legislators to write an apology within seven days.
Additionally, the disciplinary committee suggested a five-year suspension for four Nominated MCAs, Caroline Opar, Kennedy Agwang', Peter Obaso and Regina Kizito who were accused of failing to attend a consultative meeting of the MCAs of County Assembly of Kisumu held on September 19, 2022, at Grand Regency Hotel.
The party, however, expelled the four politicians from its ranks.
During the press briefing held by the ODM party on Tuesday, party chairman John Mbadi said that the decision to expel the MPs came after a series of meetings with the top leadership of Raila Odinga.
He also said that they adopted the resolutions which were recommended by the disciplinary committee.
