ODM flouting own constitution, legislators allied to Ruto say

By Vitalis KimutaiODM MPs allied to Party Deputy Leader William Ruto have accused the party of flouting its own constitution in a bid to expel two members.
Led by National Deputy Organising Secretary Benjamin Langat, the MPs said they would contest the move to expel Assistant Minister Aden Duale and Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto.
"Some officials in ODM have been ordering us around without reference to party constitution yet they are currently enjoying a lot of privileges as a result of the numbers and strength we gave them in Parliament," Langat said.
Langat said the party was yet to account to its members the money received from the political parties’ kitty.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka addresses residents of Eldoret on his way to open the Eldoret ASK Show Friday. Eldoret North MP William Ruto (left), Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli and Agriculture Minister Sally Kosgei were present. [PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD]

Kuresoi MP Zakayo Cheruiyot said the party top brass should shed its dictatorial tendencies and embrace democratic ideals that made it popular with the people ahead of the 2007 General Election.
Democratic space
"We are being told that if we are not part of a cult that is blindly loyal to the party leader (Raila Odinga), then we should be suspended or expelled. That is not only unconstitutional but also primitive," Mr Cheruiyot said.
He added: "They cannot keep hitting at us for having independent minds and demanding an expanded democratic space. This is not a personal property, but an institution with rules, regulations and followers of diverse background and opinion," he said.
"ODM cannot boast of high numbers in Parliament by including us yet they are discriminating against us and threatening us with expulsions and various forms of disciplinary actions," Cheruiyot said.
"ODM constitution states that a committee should be set up to deal with errant members. The committee reports to National Executive Council (NEC) and if it agrees with the report, it should table it before the National Governing Council," Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto said.
Constitutional Affairs Assistant Minister William Cheptumo said freedom of expression should not be misunderstood for lack of loyalty to the party, especially when members have raised genuine concerns.
"A party is an institution while a party leader is an individual. When members disagree with party leader, it does not mean they are not loyal to the party. The party could be good but the leader can not accommodate freedom of expression and democratic ideals," Cheptumo said.
The Baringo North MP said declaration of expulsions and suspensions of members were unnecessary as it was a primitive culture and that internal mechanisms should be used to sort out the problems.
Three quarters of the National Governing Council members must agree with the report before any action is taken against those targeted.
The MPs said the removal of Dr Sally Kosgei and William Ruto from the House Business Committee and Committee of Implementation of the Constitution, and plans to replace Isaac Ruto in Legal Affairs Committee were signs of dictatorship in the party.
Mr Nick Salat, the Kanu’s Secretary General said disciplinary action should be taken against MPs who had openly campaigned for other political parties other than that which sponsored them to Parliament.