The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has announced that it has started plans to recall six Members of Parliament who voted in support of the recently withdrawn finance bill.
The MPs and constituencies they represent are: Gem (Elisha Odhiambo), Bondo (Gideon Ochanda), Navakholo (Emmanuel Wangwe), Kajiado Central (Elijah Kanchory), Ikolomani (Bernard Shinali), and Suba South (Caroli Omondi).
Addressing the media during a Central Committee meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday, ODM Secretary General and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna stated that the MPs violated their oaths of office by failing to consider the aspirations of their constituents before voting on the now-withdrawn Finance Bill 2024.
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"ODM shall initiate and lead recall processes in the following constituencies in light of the current office holders repeated violation of their sacred oath and the wishes of their electorate. They are; Gem, Bondo, Navakholo, Kajiado central, Ikolomani and Suba South," said Sifuna.
Sifuna also addressed the recent episode in which demonstrators invaded Parliament, viewing it as a vote of no confidence in the Kenya Kwanza administration.
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He urged the administration to wake up, smell the coffee, and listen to Kenyans' aspirations.
"In our view what happened on June 25, 2024, amounted to a vote of No confidence in the Ruto regime; it is clear that this fact is totally lost on Ruto and it is reflected in his petulant proposals on how we manage our economy following the rejection of the tax Bill," said the Senator.
"Instead of focusing on cutting wastage, opulence and corruption in his regime, he is hitting back at the Kenyan people with threats to cut funding for the Judiciary and county governments."
The ODM Secretary General also decried police officers' excessive use of force to disperse demonstrations, as well as alleged incidences of protester abductions.
"We condemn the abuse of police power in the deployment of violent suppression techniques on innocent and unarmed protesters. we further condemn the ongoing arbitrary abductions of innocent Kenyans who are carted away in the most violent and inhumane manner and held incommunicado for days," said Sifuna.
"The Head of State has tried to distance his regime from its killings, injuries and abductions, instead conjuring up theories when everybody can see the blood on his hands. We have the most callous, insensitive and obtuse regime in the history of Kenya. It is no wonder chants of ‘Ruto must go’ are ringing out all across our land."
Sifuna criticised President Ruto for downplaying the severity of the protests and encouraged the Kenya Kwanza administration to accept full responsibility for the fatalities, injuries, and property destruction that occurred during the riots.
