ODM leaders want MP Waluke to quit and vie for election in Jubilee

Sirisia MP John Waluke has been told to resign from ODM party and seek a fresh mandate from the electorate after he publicly announced that he would work with the ruling Jubilee coalition.

ODM leaders, led by Bungoma County Assembly Majority Leader Okumu Majimbo want Mr Waluke to resign and seek fresh mandate from the electorate after announcing publicly that he was ready to leave the party that sponsored him to Parliament and join the ruling Jubilee coalition.

Addressing the press in Bungoma yesterday, Mr Majimbo said that by publicly announcing his association with the ruling Jubilee coalition, Waluke has already acted contrary to the Political Party's Act which is punishable by law.

TRAITORS WITHIN

"As the ODM leaders in the county, we will not tolerate rebel leaders who act contrary to the manifestos of the party that sponsored them to Parliament. Let him resign from the Orange party and seek for a fresh mandate from the electorates on Jubilee coalition," said Majimbo.

Speaking during a funds drive presided over by Deputy President William Ruto at Posta Grounds in the town over the weekend, Waluke, who is the Bungoma County ODM chairman, said he will work with the Jubilee government for the sake of development in his constituency.

But Majimbo, who is the county's ODM Secretary, said the role of the party was purely oversight and by siding with the ruling coalition the legislator has shown he does not respect it.

ODM County Youth Leader George Barasa said the announcement by Waluke depicted the party as a failure and called on him to publicly defend his stand by quitting and facing the electorate in a by-election.

"We don't want to work with traitors. Why should you work with the Government when you are in Opposition? This shows that you disrespect the party that took you to Parliament," said Barasa.

The youth leader called on the party's national leaders to take a stern disciplinary action against the MP so that it acts as a lesson to other party rebels.

In the meantime, the party may be headed for rocky times in the county following infighting among its leaders with majority of the politicians planning to quit and join other parties.

During a funds drive in aid of the county motorbike operators Sacco that was presided over by Ruto, Waluke who is the Bungoma County ODM chairman saidhe will work with the Jubilee government for the sake of development in his constituency.

"As a representative of Sirisia residents, I will work with the government to ensure that my constituency develops because we have lagged behind for so long, my people cannot suffer because we are in opposition," Waluke said.

SECURITY MATTERS

Meanwhile, New Ford Kenya Party leader Eugene Wamalwa has urged CORD leaders to stop politicising security matters in the country.

Speaking in Amalemba, Kakamega County during the thanksgiving ceremony for Kenya's ambassador to Addis Ababa Aggrey Shitsama, Wamalwa challenged the leaders to instead engage relevant authorities over the issue.l