ODM party leader Raila Odinga has already asked rebel MPs to resign immediately and seek a fresh mandate on a Jubilee Party ticket.
And, if the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord) affiliate parties take cue and expel all the rebels, this could force the country into a sort of a mini general election to replace dissenting members.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) could be challenged holding by-elections for more than 20 parliamentary and senate seats.
Financial and logistical implications could be overwhelming.
With the 2017 election just 10 months away, IEBC will need more than a billion to conduct the by-elections as it costs Sh50 million to conduct one in a constituency.
According to The Standard, ODM alone is targeting to unseat 10 MPs and two governors who have defected to Jubilee Party.
Kwale governor Salim Mvurya and his Marsabit counterpart Ukur Yattani may not have the opportunity to defend their seats due to constitutional limitations.
The law states that any governor who leaves office should be replaced by the deputy for the remainder of the term. The county assembly speaker takes over in an acting capacity if both the governor and the deputy leave office.
ODM, whose disciplinary committee has recommended the expulsion of 13 members who have defected to Jubilee, wants its rebel members to resign and seek re-election.
Committee chairman Fred Athuok said, “These leaders have by conduct or statement indicated their intention to defect from the party or by expressly attending the overt functions and activities of the other parties.”
Athuok who was quoted by the publication said ODM was taking up the matter with the IEBC, Parliament and affected counties to have seats declared vacant and by-elections called to replace the leaders.
ODM is considering severely punishing the rebels as the party has already written to the Registrar of Political Parties, Lucy Ndung’u, and parliament to stop their salaries and declare their seats vacant.
John Mbadi, the ODM chairman said, “We have done this because the rebel MPs have no locus standi to continue drawing huge salaries with the name of ODM, yet they subscribe to ideals of our opponents.”
Those facing the harsh penalties with Yattani and Mvurya are Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi, Kwale Woman Rep Zainab Chidzuga, Tigania East MP Mpuru Aburi, Mathare’s Stephen Kariuki, Kilifi North’s Gideon Mung’aro and his Kilifi South counterpart Mustaffa Idi.