Raila party kicks out Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda for meeting Ruto

Bondo Member of Parliament Gideon Ochanda has been fired as the secretary of ODM, Bondo sub-branch as the party began a process of expelling him from the party.

He is accused of going against the grain after he visited President William Ruto at the State House alongside other Luo politicians last week.

The Odinga family hails from Bondo and previously held the Bondo parliamentary seat for ages until Ochanda defeated Raila’s brother Oburu at the ODM primaries in 2013. Since then the Odinga family has tried to recapture the seat without success.

A meeting chaired by ODM party leader Raila Odinga’s brother Oburu in Bondo has resolved that Ochanda be expelled from the party and his sponsorship to parliament withdrawn. Ochanda is serving his third term in Parliament through ODM.

The ODM vice chairman of the Bondo sub-branch, George Ochieng Mawere has said that the Mp’s position will be taken over by the Yimbo East Member of the County Assembly, Francis Otiato who was also part of the meeting.

Otiato has said that the law was clear on the procedures to be taken to party members who go to bed with the opponents. A total of nine Mps visited Ruto on February 7 led by Suba South Mp Caroli Omondi. Others present included Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Phelix Odiwor Jalango (Langata), Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent), Paul Abuor (Rongo), John Owino (Awendo) and Tom Ojienda (Kisumu). 

“We are only endorsing what he has opted to do” said Otiato on Ochanda’s suspension.

Siaya senator, Oburu Oginga said ODM cannot tolerate indiscipline within its rank and that Kenyans must be wary of President William Ruto’s advances to opposition legislators, adding that it is an attempt to kill democracy and return the country to a single-party era.

ODM has vowed week vowed to punish its members of parliament who made a visit to State House.