ODM Chairman and Nominated MP John Mbadi has clarified that the party did not expel five rebel MPs, as has been widely reported.
Mbadi said that the party believes the five lawmakers have left the party, citing Article 14(b) of the Political Parties Act, which states that members are presumed to have resigned if they further the agenda of other parties.
“We are not expelling these members. We are saying that they have resigned from the party,” Mbadi said on Spice FM.
The five MPs are Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Phelix Odiwuor (Lang’ata), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), and Tom Ojienda (Senator of Kisumu County).
The ODM party claims that the five are rebelling because they have been openly having affairs with President William Ruto.
However, the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) has temporarily halted their expulsion from the ODM party pending a hearing and decision on the matter.
The PPDT is expected to hear the case on September 22.
In the meantime, the five MPs remain members of the ODM party, but they are not allowed to participate in party activities.