Ford Kenya Deputy Party Leader Boni Khalwale has defended embattled Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa following her expulsion from the ODM party.
Jumwa was expelled for gross misconduct after she declared support for Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 presidential bid, with ODM saying the MP should be ready to face a by-election.
She, however, vowed to stay put, saying there will be no a by-election in Malindi until she completes her 5 years as stipulated in the constitution before an election is held, accusing ODM of wrongly targeting her.
"I thank God for everything and my promise to everyone is that I will devote my duties as the Member of Parliament in Malindi until 2022. We have no room for incessant sideshows that are of no interest to the people of Malindi. The will of the people is in the hands of the people," she said a day after the March 1, expulsion.
Several leaders including Nominated Senator Milicent Omanga, and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (who is also Jumwa's lawyer in the case) have since defended her, terming ODM as a dictatorial party.
Read: Milicent Omanga slams ODM, says Aisha Jumwa is amazingly talented
Also Read: Murkomen attacks ODM, says Aisha Jumwa is going nowhere
The recent leader to defend Jumwa is Khalwale, who accused ODM party leader Raila Odinga of being behind Jumwa's woes.
Speaking on NTV's AM Live on Tuesday, the former Kakamega county senator said Odinga's handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta meant Odinga fully supported the Jubilee government, something Jumwa emulated by shaking hands with Uhuru's deputy, Ruto.
If anyone is expelled in ODM for supporting Jubilee, Khalwale said Raila should be the first person to be expelled.
"What crime has Jumwa committed? Jumwa responded to the goodwill that was created on March 9 (2018) the goodwill of handshake. Raila shook hands with the party leader of Jubilee (Kenyatta) and it was very exciting, Jumwa went on and Dori and shook hands with the deputy president. So if people must be expelled for shaking hands, thank you you have expelled Jumwa, do also expel Raila," he said.
The lawmaker, a former Kilifi Woman Representative, has since obtained orders from the Political Parties Tribunal, temporarily blocking ODM from expelling her.
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