The ODM party is planning to crack the whip and punish its members openly campaigning for Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 State House bid.
ODM on Wednesday said the party has not authorized any member to campaign for any candidate intending to vie for the presidency in 2022 and the early campaigns which some members have begun are against the party's principles.
Those facing punishment are mainly from the Coast region. The leaders on Tuesday openly campaigned for the DP.
They include Suleiman Dori (Msambweni constituency), Kinango’s Benjamin Tayari, Kilifi North's Owen Baya and Jomvu MP Badi Twalib.
The four while speaking during celebrations to mark the World Environment Day at Baraza Park in Kwale on Tuesday called on Coast residents to back Ruto in his attempt to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2022.
"I want to ask leaders and residents of Kwale and the Coast as a whole that we should work with a leader who is ready to bring development to our societies and that is none other than Ruto," Dori said during the event as Twalib said that Coast residents have seen Ruto's capability to lead the country.
"We will support you (Ruto) even as you wander around because we have seen the results of your countrywide tours," Dori said.
But on Wednesday, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the Orange party will not entertain early campaigns by its members. He, however, did not state the kind of punishment the party will slap against its defiant members.
"It is shocking indeed that some of those engaged in these premature campaigns for Ruto are members of the Party’s NEC who are expected to abide by its decisions," he said.