[Nominated senator Elizabeth Ongoro with Mike Sonko. She has ditched ODM for ANC. Photo: Twitter]
This week has been a busy one for ODM and it is not about to cool down anytime soon.Well, as has been, the party has been holding its primaries and punishing those who have breached its code of conduct by ensuring that they have a transparent exercise devoid of chaos.While this may be good following the tainted image after the 2007 elections, there are some quarters which have been left to suffer. This is despite the loyalty they have shown to the party and its leader Raila Odinga.Political commentator Mutahi Ngunyi has been quoted severally saying that ODM has a way of eating its own children and this week has proven just that. There has not been a diehard supporter of the party and the leader like nominated senator Elizabeth Ongoro. Ongoro was punished for chaos witnessed at the ODM party headquarters two weeks ago and she was forbidden from vying in Ruaraka constituency which is seemingly reserved for TJ Kajwang’. She had been given an option to vie for the Lang’ata constituency seat but clarified that she is ready to face any candidate for the Ruaraka seat.This is despite the party promising to have a level playing field for all its members. With the costly disciplinary action, Ongoro has dumped the orange party for Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC which is a constituent party of NASA.Mudavadi is the brainchild behind NASA and one of the four co-principals running to be the coalition’s flag bearer.But what do Ongoro’s punishment and resignation portend for ODM? She ditched ODM party citing unfairness and mistreatment at her former party. She also expressed disappointment with ODM for disqualifying her to vie with the party ticket terming the move unfair and discriminatory.“There seems to be a cartel that feels that they have and hold the political destinies of people in their hands. That they can seat in a boardroom somewhere and have some midnight meetings and decide who will run for which seat and where,” Ongoro lamented when she was joined Musalia’s party.Ongoro says she will not pay the fine as she has already resigned from ODM which is a party with a lot of influence in the NASA coalition.Is ODM becoming a liability for the Mudavadi, Raila, Kalonzo and Wetangula union?