Opposition Chief Raila Odinga has softened his stance on the disciplinary action against his party members for warming up to the Kenya Kwanza administration.

 Raila, the ODM party leader said that the rebel lawmakers wrote to him explaining their decision to meet President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua at State House.

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

 In an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday evening, Raila explained that he had received communication from the rebel MPs.

 “I have received written communication from them saying that they have not defected from ODM. They just went to State House to follow up on projects. They were there when Ruto went to Nyanza and they said that Ruto had promised certain projects which they were following and that’s why they went to State House,” said Raila.

 Raila stated that Odiwuor, famously known as Jalang’o, told him that he had visited State House because Ruto is his friend but he had not defected from ODM.

 “He was at State House. He says that the president is his friend and he had gone there but he has not said he has left ODM.”

 Raila  charged that he had instructed the party’s top organs to give a benefit of doubt to the rebel MPs especially on their explanation regarding the State House visits.

Disciplinary action

 “I am really the one who said, give them the benefit of doubt, deal with them if the party wants to carry out disciplinary action against them. But I have said give them the benefit of doubt because going to State House is not a crime as long as you make it known to the party,” said Raila.

  “Going the way they did causes problems. If they want to move is not going to be the first time, remember we used to have defections those days but in those days those people were doing what is required by the law. If you are moving away from the party that sponsored you to parliament you have to resign and go and contest the election in a new party. We welcome them to go and re-contest.” he said.

 ODM Chairman John Mbadi had explained that not all cases proceed to disciplinary action after a member has been asked to show cause, since a member can respond adequately and satisfactorily.

 “If a member responds satisfactorily, then the case ends there. But if the response is not adequate then I will refer the matter to the Central Committee for further action which may include referring the matter to the disciplinary committee,” he said. Mbadi further explained that should the responses not be satisfactory, the matter would proceed to Central Committee, Disciplinary committee which will make a recommendation to the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Recommends expulsion

 He stated that should the committee recommends expulsion of a member, then such a move must be ratified by the National Governing Council (NGC).

 The Gem lawmaker however, insisted that he went to State House to negotiate for development projects in his constituency.

“We struggled to have Raila ascend to power but all efforts were in vain,” said Odhiambo adding that even with the entire state machinery supporting Raila’s candidature, he still failed to capture power, leaving them with no option but to work with the government of the day.

 Odhiambo while dishing out bursary cheques worth Sh20 million to students in his Gem constituency said his constituents are demanding for development which can only be realised if he works closely with the government.