Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi has been kicked out of ODM Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). He was removed alongside former counsellor and Eldoret-based farmer Kipkorir Menjo and Taita Taveta Senator Johnes Mwaruma.
According to a letter from ODM, the trio were removed from the decision-making organ for holding two party positions. Hon Amisi confirmed the news during an interview at Radio Generation on Wednesday morning.
Until his dismissal, Amisi was the Deputy National Organizing Secretary and was recently elected as Chairperson of the Trans Nzoia County ODM office.
“What people are not aware of is that they have already kicked me out. I have a letter here sent from the NEC. The reason they say is that I hold two positions. They claim that I am a county chair and at the same time I hold the position of ODM Deputy Organising Secretary,” he stated.
However, Amisi argued that the removal did not follow due process and was politically motivated. He stated that for the move to be actualized, the NEC must convene and unanimously agree, and the person in question must be given the right of reply.
“For you to remove an NEC member, there are procedures. You do not just write letters from Bondo and send them on WhatsApp. The NEC must meet, they must agree, or by a vote, you are supposed to leave, and you are supposed to be given a right of reply; there must be a hearing,” he added.
He insisted that he was legitimately appointed to the position (deputy organizing secretary). He also accused the ODM Party leadership of using the move to side-line him.
The Saboti lawmaker also criticized the party for denying him the opportunity to choose which position to retain, despite this right being provided for in the party constitution.
“How did I become a deputy organizing secretary? The position of Zulekha became vacant, and they felt I was the best person to replace her. I said anything for the party, and I became one. I was already a chairman at the time, and I’ve been serving both positions for two years,” he said.
The move comes at a time when the ODM Party is grappling with internal wrangles that have since split it into two factions.
Amisi, together with NEC members Godfrey Osotsi (Deputy Party Leader), Ruth Odinga (Deputy Organising Secretary), and Babu Owino (Secretary for Science and Technology), are among the vocal opponents of the planned pre-election coalition talks with President Ruto’s UDA.
