MP Amisi vows to challenge removal from ODM NEC

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has vowed to challenge ODM’s decision to remove him as a member of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Speaking to Radio Generation, the MP said the move is irregular and procedurally flawed.

Amisi said the party communicated his removal before the NEC formally met to deliberate on the matter.

The NEC is currently meeting in Mombasa.

“They have removed me from NEC, that was their target,” Amisi said.

According to the MP, he received a letter informing him of his removal and at the same time congratulating him for being a county chair.

ODM executive director Oduor Ong’wen signed the letter.

“The letter saying I have been removed from NEC and congratulating me for being a county chair was signed by executive director Oduor Ong’wen,” he said.

However, Amisi absolved the Ong’wen frimblame, saying he was acting on instructions from higher party organs.

“I cannot really blame him, he just works for the party and gets instructions. He is an innocent executor,” he said.

The legislator questioned the legality of the process, insisting that the NEC meeting in Mombasa should have been the forum to deliberate and decide on his removal before any communication was made to him.

“The NEC meeting sitting in Mombasa should be the one to remove me before I receive the letter,” he argued.

Amisi said he has already instructed his lawyer to formally respond to the party and contest the decision.

“I have instructed my lawyer to write back and probably by end of the day the party will be receiving my letter,” he said.

He said he intends to pursue the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before considering further legal action.

“There is what we call internal dispute resolution mechanism so if you go to court they will send you back there,” Amisi said.

The MP also demanded to be informed why he was not given an opportunity to choose which position to relinquish if indeed the party believed he was holding two offices contrary to its rules.

“I want to be told why I was not given an opportunity to choose a position in NEC,” he said.

According to Amisi, the party justified his removal on grounds that he simultaneously holds the positions of Trans Nzoia county ODM chairman and deputy organising secretary at the national level.

However, he maintained that he did not engineer his appointment to the second role.

“It is not me who said I be given two positions. They are the ones who gave me and because I am a true servant of the party, I gladly accepted,” he said.

Amisi further revealed that his appointment as deputy organising secretary followed a vacancy and was endorsed by former party leader Raila Odinga.

“How did I become deputy organising secretary? The position fell vacant and Baba Raila Odinga felt I was the right person for that position. He asked whether I was willing to serve. I accepted and at that time I was still county chair,” he explained.

While acknowledging that holding two positions could be interpreted as irregular, Amisi said he has served in both capacities for the past two years without objection.