A day after embattled Kisii Deputy Governor Joash Maangi was reconciled with his sponsor party a week after being suspended by the area ODM coordinating committee, two ODM MCAs have contested the decision.
Mr Maangi was pardoned by the team lead by the party’s chairman in the county, Mr Chris Obure, in a function that was attended by a number of leaders as they vowed to work as a team to lift the chances of the party forming the next government.
However, Kiogoro MCA Samuel Apoko and his Chitago-Borabu Albert Oino were unanimous that the pardon was likely to give party members a channel to court with Jubilee rivals and go unpunished.
“As an ODM supporter, I am really disappointed. He (Maangi) openly rebuked party leaders Raila Odinga by calling him 'Mtu wa Vitendawili' on Egesa FM. That alone deserves hefty punishment including being expelled from the party. I think the party is being too lenient on people who are dragging us back,” Apoko said.
Mr Oino on his part said allowing Mr Maangi to serve as party’s regional organising secretary was likely to jeopardise the party’s strategic plans in 2017 since he had openly shown interest in working with the Jubilee party.
"I think the committee got it wrong by reinstating him. He has openly shown interest with our rivals and it is time that the party stripped him of the critical organising secretary position. He is likely to us the position against the wishes of the party in 2017. They have to rethink about it,” he said.