Msambweni Member of Parliament Suleiman Dori and Aisha Jumwa of Malindi have said that Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party does not have a presidential candidate.
In a petition to ODM’s National Governing Council (NGC) filed through lawyer Kipchumba Murkomen this week, the duo said that the decision to expel them was baseless.
Jumwa and Dori were accused of going against the Political Parties Act by supporting the interests of another political party. The lawmakers have a close association with Deputy President William Ruto. Jumwa has publicly expressed her desire to support DP Ruto’s 2022 presidential ambition.
However, through Murkomen, they said no party has nominated a presidential candidate. According to the petition, they are free to associate with any politician.
“An allegation that the Hon. Members supported a ‘presidential candidate’ other than ODM party presidential candidate is baseless and outrageous. No party has nominated such a candidate as at the time of the alleged utterances or even now for the future elections. That nominations are yet to come,” reads part of the petition seen by Citizen digital.
They also argued that their decision to work closely with DP Ruto was informed by ODM’s decision to support the Building Bridges Initiative.