Will Aisha Jumwa and Suleiman Dori Survive Expulsion?

The fate of two ODM MPs (Aisha Jumwa and Suleiman Dori) branded as rebellious will be known on Friday, March 1 when the party will hold its National Governing Council (NGC) meeting.

The party on Tuesday said the governing council will deliberate and make a final decision on the report recommending the expulsion of the two MPs and which was adopted by ODM’s National Executive Council (NEC).

The meeting will be held at the Co-Operative University in Karen, Nairobi.

On February 5 this year, the two lawmakers filed an appeal to the party’s National Governing Council contesting their expulsion from the Orange party.

In their petition, they claimed that the decision to expel them was made in “complete disregard” of the party Constitution and was based on allegations that are “strange and not recognised by any law.”

The party accuses them of openly supporting and promoting the interests of another political party, following their close and public association with Deputy President William Ruto.

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In their defence, however, they argue that their association with DP Ruto was in line with the Building Bridges Initiative which was a creation of their party leader, Raila Odinga together with President Kenyatta.

“The Hon. Members (Jumwa and Dori) are aware of the ODM Party position to support government initiatives under the Building Bridges Initiative that arose after the ‘handshake’ between the ODM party leader, on one hand, and the President of Kenya (Jubilee Party leader).

Any such association with the government including the Deputy President was in line with this initiative, and in exercise of the freedom of association,” stated their petition filed through Advocate Kipchumba Murkomen.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, February 6, the ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna dismissed the appeal by Jumwa and Dori, stating that the party Constitution does not allow appeals after expulsion.

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