Awendo MP Walter Owino could be off the hook after he apologised to ODM leader Raila Odinga over the visit to State House last week.

The MP, in an interview with People Daily, said he reached out to Raila after the visit and explained to him the circumstances surrounding the visit.

Owino stated that he had tried to contact Raila and other ODM officials prior to the visit but could not reach them. He then sent them short text messages notifying them of the impromptu visit.

Upon leaving State House, he found missed calls from the party leader and called him back to explain what had happened. “I told him we met and discussed development matters and nothing sinister was discussed,’’ the MP said.

He added that he expressed remorse that he had failed to notify Raila of the visit and promised to toe the party line.

People Daily learnt that it is against this backdrop that Owino was not among the seven MPs who were given show cause letters by the party.

The seven are Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Paul Abuor, (Rongo), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o (Lang’ata) and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.

In the show cause letter, the legislators are asked to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for breaching the Political Parties Act by associating with a party other than the one that sponsored them.

The party sent out the letters following a petition by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch.

Owino’s name as well as that of  Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabbir were missing from Oketch’s list of MPs to be disciplined. While Shabbir’s name was omitted because he was elected on an Independent ticket, Owino’s omission sent tongues wagging with his colleagues accusing him of spying on them.