Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has condemned the ODM Party's expulsion of Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa, calling the process flawed and warning of disruptive consequences for the county's political landscape in 2019.
As ODM's Kilifi County chairman, Kingi accused party leadership of bypassing local officials when voting to remove Jumwa over her alleged support for Deputy President William Ruto's 2022 presidential campaign. He argued the disciplinary action undermines county development priorities and urged reconsideration of the decision.
Jumwa has refused to engage with party leaders to challenge her expulsion, while the ODM National Governing Council deferred action on Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori's case. The party's disciplinary measures followed accusations that both lawmakers violated internal rules by endorsing Ruto's candidacy.
ODM officials cited the March 9, 2019 handshake agreement between the party and Ruto's coalition as justification for cross-party alliances under the 'building bridges' principle. However, ODM's disciplinary committee must now notify the Registrar of Political Parties to formalize Jumwa's expulsion, triggering a by-election process.
