The political parties’ tribunal court has quashed the expulsion of Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba and Likoni MP Masoud Mwalimu Mwahima from Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) but has upheld the expulsion of seven other legislators from the party.
While delivering the judgment, the five-member panel, chaired by lawyer Kyalo Mbobu, ruled that Namwamba and Mwahima were not given a proper notice of the disciplinary committee’s hearing where they would present their defense.
However, the panel ruled that the seven other legislators, Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, Kisii deputy governor Joash Maangi, Mathare MP Steven Kariuki, nominated MP Isaac Mwaura, Nakuru west MP Samwel Arama, Sirisia MP John Waluke and Kwale women representative Zainab Chidzunga were expelled after lawfully going through the disciplinary committee to present their defense.
The nine leaders were expelled from ODM for attending the launch of the Jubilee Party at the Kasarani Stadium on September 10 last year upon personal invitations.
They had been accused of infringing the ODM Constitution that forbids members from any affiliation with rival parties.
Lawyer Kioko Kilukumi had argued that the disciplinary action by the five-member committee was illegal since ODM did not have a properly-constituted National Executive Committee (NEC) following the fiasco during its abortive National Delegates Conference at Kasarani. The party’s elections for national officials had been scheduled to be held on February 28, 2014, but never took place.
