ODM accuses Wetangula of bias, wants him to stay out of its politics

ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party wants National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula to stop getting involved in its party politics.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 13, the Party Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna criticised the Wetangula for commenting on the decision to expel some of its members over gross misconduct allegations.

Sifuna claimed that the Speaker has clung to the Kenya Kwanza side while holding office, in which he should be non-partisan.

"We draw a line on the involvement of the Speaker of the National Assembly, who, while holding an office that makes him both the head of the crucial third arm of government and therefore a supposed neutral arbiter in legislative and political party issues, cannot take sides in partisan matters," Sifuna stated.

The party was responding to Wetangula's remarks on Sunday, September 10 where he told off the ODM Party leader for expelling some of its members, instead of allowing them to serve the public.

"We want to tell all elected leaders that the door to work with government is open as long as it is done in a Constitutional manner. The same frustrations mated to those leaders also happened to us," Wetangula said while in Uriri.

The Speaker went on to urge the party rebels to join other political parties that are willing to accommodate them as long as they keep their pact of serving their constituents.

Sifuna reminded Wetangula of his duty to declare the seats vacant in case the Party insisted on pushing through with the expulsion.

"He cannot therefore have any opinion on the matter until the Party has undertaken its mandate as to do so would be extremely prejudicial," Sifuna added.

He advised the Speaker to call the expelled MPs to join his Ford-Kenya Party to create room for by-elections.

The Nairobi Senator further warned Wetangula to stop desecrating his office by making it look like a 'Kenya Kwanza affiliate' office.

"Henceforth, as long as he continues making these unfortunate and divisive utterances, we will separate Wetangula the Speaker from Wetangula the politician and deal with him like any other political opponent," he added.