Gem Member of Parliament Elisha Odhiambo today became the second legislator from Siaya to face threats of expulsion from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party after Gem ODM branch recommended his ejection over a visit to the State House a fortnight ago.

As calls for expulsion of alleged renegade ODM legislators gained momentum, the Gem ODM branch executive committee meeting held at Sagam trading centre further kicked out the legislator and some of his allies from the positions held at the branch, where Odhiambo was a representative of the special interest group.

Addressing the press after the meeting, the branch chairman Nick Ochola said that the legislator and one of the branch executive committee members John Ogam Maramba have been working in the interest of ODM’s rivals and had campaigned against ODM candidates in the last general elections.

 “During the August 8, 2022, general elections, they openly campaigned against the ODM nominee candidate for North Gem ward and instead supported the FPK candidate, causing ODM to lose,” said the chairman.

He said that the duo was at it again during December 8, 2022, by-elections in the South Gem ward where they openly campaigned against ODM nominee candidate Polycarp Wanga who lost to an independent candidate.

The legislator was further accused of championing the interest and policies of rival parties by meeting the leadership of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) at State House, Nairobi on 7/2/2023 thus violating the ODM constitution, said the Gem branch chairman.

 “The meeting has resolved that Elisha Ochieng Odhiambo and John Ogam Maramba be suspended from the branch membership of ODM for reason that they have not been promoting the interest of the party,” said a statement read by Ochola adding “recommendation is made to the ODM national office to commence deregistration and/or expulsion proceedings against the two”.

The party’s Siaya county coordinating committee chairman Oloo Okanda hailed the decision of the Gem Branch, adding that the party must weed out people who are not loyal.

 “That is the direction that all branches must take to clean the party,” said Okanda.

Odhiambo becomes the second MP from Siaya County to face threats of expulsion from the party after the ODM Bondo branch also suspended MP Gideon Ochanda from the party and relieved him of his duties as the branch secretary early this week.

If expelled from the party, the duo risks losing their parliamentary seats.