Pressure is piling on the Jubilee Party to expel Nominated MP Maina Kamanda for endorsing a rival candidate in the upcoming Kibra parliamentary by-election.
Kamanda on Thursday threw his weight behind Imran Okoth of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and denounced Jubilee's McDonald Mariga.
Kirinyaga Woman Representative Purity Ngirici has now accused Kamanda of rebelling against the party that sponsored him to Parliament and called for his expulsion.
Speaking during a rally organised by women leaders allied to Inua Mama Jenga Taifa group, Ngirici said if Kamanda will go unpunished, his move will encourage more members to revolt against the party led by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“He has abused a privilege of being a nominated MP that we gave him as Jubilee Party. If he no longer holds the ideology of the ruling party then he should resign and join the opposition. His position can be given to other deserving leaders,” she said on Friday while in Taita Taveta County.
Her Kimilili counterpart Didmus Barasa expressed similar sentiments, arguing that those not supporting Mariga should not go unpunished.
“In fact, Jubilee members who are against this quest should be disciplined for going against the Political Parties Act," Barasa said.
However, outspoken Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has defended Kamanda, arguing that the veteran politician should not be disciplined since even Deputy President William Ruto has been defying Uhuru, who is Jubilee's party leader.
"They could have a point. But I think it’s balanced out by the fact that Ruto has also been defying Uhuru on the handshake. Personally I will go to campaign for Mariga ... when Uhuru goes to Kibra. Meanwhile, let Nairobi people wamenyanyane mpaka Kieleweke," he said.
Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has also vowed not to support Mariga noting he had his preferred candidate in the race.
"I will not support Mariga because I had a preferred candidate. I already finished my work with the people of Kibra," he said.
During ODM nominations held early this month, Kuria rallied behind Benson Musungu but was defeated by Imran.