Politics
Suba South legislator Caroli Omondi has faulted ODM party leadership over threats to oust him from his parliamentary post. Omondi said last week’s decision by the party leadership to recall him was an empty threat with no legal backing.
The legislator who issued a press release said those who made the decision to recall him were not voters in his constituency and therefore have no mandate to recall him. The party leadership announced Tuesday last week that it would initiate the process of recalling Omondi and five other MPs for supporting the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
The MP told his constituents not to be cowed by the ODM party announcement. “I wish to take this opportunity to assure the people of Suba South Constituency that the announcement by some individuals to the effect that they plan to recall me as your Member of Parliament is of no legal consequence,” Omondi wrote.
Omondi said the grievances of the ODM party leadership have no basis to warrant his recall noting that he proposed 18 amendments to the finance bill based on the views of his constituents. “The grounds and process for recalling a Member of Parliament are well articulated in the Constitution, the Elections Act and Case Law. None applies to me,” Omondi pointed out.
The MP said what he did was his constitutional right which is enshrined in the Standing Orders of Parliament. “Equally established in our constitutional order under the Constitution and Standing Orders of the National Assembly is the voting autonomy and associated privilege and immunity of a Member of Parliament in the exercise of his or her mandate,” he added.
He noted that a similar initiative by the ODM top brass to expel him last year did not yield any fruit and that the current attempt will suffer the same fate. The Legislator urged the people of Suba South to remain calm and get on with their normal activities.