ODM MP Dares Raila To Expel Him

Kajiado Central Member of Parliament Elijah Memusi Kanchory on Tuesday, September 12 dared the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) to expel him over his association with President William Ruto.

Speaking at a function, Kanchory implored the Raila Odinga-led party to take action against him and that he was ready to go back to the electorate if the party expelled him.

The lawmaker believed that it would be through the will of the people that he would reclaim his seat in the event he vies in a by-election.

President William Ruto with Kajiado Central MP Elijah Memusi at State House. /PCS

"If a letter is written bring it, if you want us to return to the citizens, we will return. There is no ballot carried in a basket; the votes are with the citizens, and we will go and seek them from the citizens,” he dared.

Kanchory slammed ODM for denying him any leadership role in the National Assembly despite being elected three times running through its party ticket to serve his constituents.

He also accused the party of favouritism through the expulsions, arguing that ODM was punishing those it considered enemies of the party and sparing friends, despite the latter having shown commitment to working with Ruto.

"I am a member of parliament, and I have been elected for the third time now under the ODM party. During all this time, I haven't received anything from the ODM party in terms of leadership in parliament.

"How can I not even lead a single parliamentary committee? Right now, we are assessing who wants to be our friends and who wants us to march with them. We are saying this loudly and clearly during the day,” he added.

Kanchory went on to declare that he would not allow the Rail Odinga-led party to control him and his constituents.

The five MPs expelled from ODM were Lang'ata MP Felix Odiwuor aka Jalang'o, Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), and Kisumu Senator, Prof Tom Ojienda.

On the same day, the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal suspended Elisha Odhiambo's expulsion from OD<M, stating that the new order would remain in effect until an application challenging his ouster was determined.

The tribunal also barred the political outfit from removing the MP from his Parliamentary committee roles. The case will be mentioned on September 20, 2023.

Odhiambo is one of the five lawmakers who were expelled from the Raila-led party on the grounds of gross misconduct and disloyalty to the party.