Orange Democratic Movement Party Laikipia county officials issuing a statement in Nanyuki on Monday, September 9, 2025/KNA
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Laikipia branch officials have called for disciplinary action against an MCA over alleged mocking of their party leader Raila Odinga during the burial ceremony of the former MP Mathew Lempurkel.
Speaking to the media in Nanyuki, the party officials led by ODM Branch Chairman, John Orengo, have distanced themselves from the utterances made by Mukogodo West MCA Nicholas Lempaira, which they termed as reckless and disrespectful.
“It is with deep concern that we, the ODM county leadership, condemn the utterances against our party leader by the MCA.We would like to mention that respect is paramount, and our party leader must be respected at all times,” said Orengo. We would like to mention that respect is paramount, and our party leader must be respected at all times,” said Orengo.
He said that the utterances undermined the party and its leadership since the MCA was elected through ODM ticket.
“We would like to firmly state that, as Laikipia ODM leadership, we cannot tolerate any of our member who is serving in the leadership under ODM ticket to behave in any way that undermine the party and its leadership,” said the chairman, adding that the Mukogodo West MCA must be expelled from the party for publically insulting the former Prime Minister.
During the burial ceremony of the former Laikipia North MP at Il Polei village last Friday, the ward representative told Raila to his face that he had failed to support the fallen politician when he was alive as he faced constant harassment for defending land rights of his people.
The MCA also threatened to lead his supporters out of the party, accusing the former Prime Minister of causing confusion after entering into a working relationship with Kenya Kwanza administration under the broad based government.
“It’s time for you to speak for us while you’re still alive; you owe us the people of Laikipia North and the Lempurkel family. We are having a lot of challenges since we don’t know if we are in UDA (United Democratic Alliance) or Nusu Mkate, we need direction,” the MCA told the former Prime Minister.
The ODM officials in the county have condemned the incident and they are now accusing the MCA for being a Democratic Citizen Party (DCP) sympathizer.
They have dared him to resign and seek a fresh mandate on a different party.
They maintained that Lempurkel had worked closely with Raila in popularizing the party and the two remained close friends until he succumbed to injuries sustained during a traffic accident last month.
Lempurkel was elected as the first ODM MP in Laikipia County in 2013 but continued to be a loyal party member even after losing the seat in 2017.
In 2021 he was jailed for one year after being found guilty of assaulting his political rival and successor Sarah Korere.
