- Jalang'o was among five ODM MPs who were expelled from the party by NEC.
- They, however, triumphed at the tribunal after the court found their expulsion irregular.
Image: PCS
Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Sunday asked Lang'ata MP Felix Odiwour, also known as Jalang'o and ODM party rebels, to resign from the party if they want to work with Kenya Kwanza.
The Orange Democratic Movement leader said the lawmaker and others who want to work closely with the government have no business remaining in Parliament on the ODM ticket.
Speaking during an ODM recruitment drive in Nairobi Raila said he had already reached out to Jalang' o and his colleagues, asking them to seek a fresh mandate from voters on UDA tickets if they believe in themselves.
"We have agreed that all those elected as MPs in our parties have a term of five years. If you want to leave ODM and join UDA, then leave Parliament and return to the people to be re-elected under UDA," Raila said.
"In Nairobi, we have Lang'ata MP and you know the rest. We have told them that we are returning to the ground and if you get re-elected on UDA, that is fine but we must go back to the election."
Jalang'o is among ODM MPs who have been collaborating with President William Ruto's administration since last year.
Others include Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, Suba MP Caroli Omondi, Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, and Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo.
The five MPs were expelled by ODM's National Executive Committee after the party determined that their actions went against the official party position.
They, however, moved to court to overturn the ODM NEC decision.
In January, the Political Parties Tribunal ruled against the ODM party and quashed the expulsion of the five MPs.
The Tribunal in a verdict by chairman Deman Nungo and Stephen Musau, found the expulsion of the MPs to be irregular.
The tribunal also found the ODM Disciplinary Committee not properly constituted rendering the decision of the National Executive Committee invalid.
“This Honourable Tribunal declares that the disciplinary proceedings against the complainant were unprocedural and in violation of the right to fair administrative action and fair hearings as per Article 47 and 50 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, Section 14A(2) of the Political Parties Act, the Fair Administrative Action Act,” the ruling reads in parts.
“The Honourable Tribunal hereby declares the Disciplinary Committee was not properly constituted and thus the decision of the National Executive Committee adopting recommendations of the said committee is invalid and has no effect in law.”
In July last year, ODM's NEC chaired by Raila, ratified the Disciplinary Committee's recommendations to expel the five rebel lawmakers.