A section of ODM members of parliament who were expelled from the party have maintained that they have nothing to apologize for and will keep working with President Ruto.

The members of parliament, led by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, accused ODM's leadership of inconsistencies, questioning why seeing the President was considered inappropriate for them but not for their party leader, Raila Odinga, who apparently met President Ruto in Mombasa lately.

PHOTO | COURTESY Rebel ODM MPs maintain they will keep working with Ruto

"You may have heard that a few of us were expelled from ODM for meeting President Ruto in Nairobi." Others then met him at the State House in Mombasa. "If it's good in Mombasa, it's good in Nairobi," Omondi remarked.

Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda indicated they embarked on a new political road to reshape the Nyanza region's political scene.

He said they are not concerned about a by-election, as some may believe, and that if there were an operable Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), they would have resigned to seek a new mandate from the people.

PHOTO | COURTESY Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda


"If it wasn't that there was no IEBC we would have resigned and sought re-election because the politics in this region must change and the change begins with us," Ojienda said in a statement.

Mark Nyamita, MP for Uriri, stated that their relationship with President Ruto is exclusively for development objectives and should not be challenged because it is the only way the region can gain from the State.

The legislators were speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony for another suspected ODM renegade, Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo, in Mutumbu, which President Ruto attended as part of his four-day visit to Nyanza.

PHOTO | COURTESY President Ruto

President Ruto expressed regret that perceived dissident MPs were being victimized by ODM simply for visiting him for development goals.

He emphasized that leaders should not be divided along tribal or political party lines because they represent one country and people. 

"Mipaka ya siasa na vyama visitugawanye. Vyama ni vizuri kwa sababu ni demokrasia lakini vyama si uadui. As leaders we must work together," said Ruto.