ODM faces an uphill task in its push to kick out rebel MPs Aisha Jumwa and Suleiman Dori.
The national executive committee approved the expulsion of the Malindi and Msambweni MPs respectively. However, the party is still not yet out of the woods thanks to the high bar set by its own constitution.
The ODM constitution requires that at least two-thirds of the total membership of National Governing Council (NGC) not only attend a meeting to ratify the expulsion but also to vote in support of the recommendation.
A senior party official yesterday told the Star that this will be an effort in futility, signaling that the two legislators may not lose their seats at all.
“The threshold is not possible as attendance to NGC is normally low. Even with a quorum, not many MPs will support the recommendation to expel Jumwa and Dori,” the official said.
The requirement, hence, poses a headache to the party on its bid to use the two legislators’ case to send a warning to its members who don’t tow the party lines.