Court bars Wanjigi from opening offices, meeting ODM members

Meru Chief Magistrate’s Court has stopped businessman Jimmy Wanjigi from opening offices or meeting with members of the ODM party until the case that has been certified as urgent filed by Philomena Kiogora is determined.

“That this honourable court do hereby an order of temporary injunction restraining the respondent from opening any office, calling and meetings of party members, or acting in any other way which is supposed to be the preserve of party officials in any part of the Republic of Kenya pending the hearing and determination of this suit,” the court said.

Wanjigi has declared interest in the presidency using the ODM ticket, seeking to square it out with party leader Raila Odinga.

He has been opening party offices across the country, majorly in the Central region.

Last month, a member of the Orange party moved to the Political Parties Tribunal challenging Wanjigi’s presidential candidature.

Complainant Catherine Wanjiku Irungu accused the party of failing to conduct an objective ethics and integrity test on Wanjigi.

The petitioner said that the move has allowed Wanjigi to act with impunity including slandering the party leader and causing confusion by laying out rebellious parallel party structures like offices.

Irungu added that Wanjigi is yet to be a proper member of ODM.

Recently, the party threatened to discipline members opening party offices without express authority from the national office.

ODM secretary-general Edwin Sifuna said that such moves will henceforth attract disciplinary action.

Sifuna issued the warning after a meeting of the party’s top decision-making organ– the central committee - chaired by party leader Raila Odinga.