Ditch Orange party, ODM lawmakers told

Jubilee allied MPs have asked their ODM colleagues to ditch the party and join the ruling coalition.

Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali and his Navakholo counterpart Emmanuel Wangwe claimed that the Orange party was frustrating leaders from the region agitating for good leadership.

They referred to the recent claims by nine ODM MPs from the region led by Secretary General Ababu Namwamba (Budalang'i) and Vice Chairman Paul Otuoma (Funyula) that the top party leadership was undermining, frustrating and ignoring them.

"There is no future for the community in ODM. It is time the members united with us to forge a united pact ahead of 2017. We should unite and increase our bargaining power to be part of the next government while in Jubilee coalition," said Mr Washiali.

The Jubilee deputy chief whip in the National Assembly dismissed claims by CORD leader Raila Odinga and ODM MPs that the ruling coalition was compromising Opposition leaders from the region.

He said no MP has been 'bought' as alleged by Raila. "Evey leader has a right and democratic freedom to join any coalition. No one has been compromised to support Jubilee but it is the good leadership and development scorecard that makes Kenyans to support Jubilee," he said.

Mr Wangwe said ODM has its owners, and the Luhya has no space in the Opposition politics.

"ODM has its owners and it is time leaders from this region made a move so that we can seek accommodation in Jubilee. Those in ODM should read the signs on the wall and come back home early so that we can work together with Jubilee," said Wangwe.

He said the community is not ready to be in the Opposition after the 2017 elections.

"We owe ODM and the Opposition nothing. We are tired supporting the Opposition. The time to work with the winning team is now," he said.

Speaking in Busia on Monday, Raila insisted dissatisfied members of the party are still 'life' members of ODM.

He said ODM would meet the members to iron out some of their concerns to contain a possible fallout in the region.

"Mr Ababu and his team are still ODM members. We will meet them to ensure their concerns are addressed by the party," said Raila.

Ababu, Otuoma and Busia Senator Amos Wako skipped Raila's rally.

Political analyst Martin Andati said: "The move by Ababu and several other MPs from Western to express their dissatisfaction with ODM in public clearly indicates they might join a different political vehicle."