Combative Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa is once again set for a major political showdown with her own party ODM as residents of Ganda ward in her Malindi constituency prepare for a by-election to pick a member of county assembly.
jumwa
The impending by-election follows the High Court’s nullification of the election of area MCA Abdulrahman Omar of ODM after a petition by his opponents. The IEBC has set October 17 as the date for the by-election.
Joseph Kiponda alias Joseppe of Jubilee party and Reuben Katana of Kadu Asili petitioned the court to reverse the victory of Omar over election irregularities. The two were candidates in the ward during 2017 general elections.
Jumwa has already settled on the outgoing MCA as her preferred candidate. She wants Omar who is her political ally to recapture the seat as an independent candidate while ODM is still hunting for a candidate. ODM has indicated it will not hold nominations but will instead give direct nomination.
There were indications last week that the orange party could settle on Katana who was one of the petitioners who prompted the election nullification.
Governor Joho and Governor Kingi
Kilifi governor Amason Kingi is expected to lead ODM campaigns backed by his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho to stop Jumwa from humiliating the party for the second time.
Kingi who held a meeting with ODM leader Raila Odinga last week has been on record rebuking the MP over her brand of politics. He accuses the legislator of being anti-Coastal unity for backing William Ruto against coastal presidential candidates. No one knows who those candidates are though.
Two months ago, Jumwa won a battle against ODM after a tribunal quashed disciplinary proceedings which had seen her removed from the party.
The ODM delegates had voted in March for the Malindi MP’s expulsion from the party over her support for Ruto and his bid for the presidency come 2022.
But the tribunal ruled that the proceedings at the party’s disciplinary committee were improperly constituted, so the report was invalid and lacked effect in law.
The tribunal led by Kyalo Mbobu referred the matter back to the party but said the fresh disciplinary process should be in line with the rules of law and natural justice and the party’s constitution.
The tribunal outcome embarrassed Joho, a sworn political enemy of the Malindi MP who had a few weeks earlier hosted delegations in his Malindi home assuring residents that a by-election to deal with the legislator was underway.
