A section of Members of Parliament from the Coast region have criticised Raila Odinga's ODM party for summoning local MPs who pledged their political allegiance to Deputy President William Ruto.
The defiant ODM MPs who include Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Suleiman Dori (Msambweni) among others, said they would support Ruto's 2022 presidential bid after their party leader joined hands with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Dori and Jumwa were asked to show-cause why they should not be disciplined for going against the party regulations after they declared their support for Ruto's 2022 presidential bid.
In a letter dated September 19, ODM disciplinary committee chairman Fred Athuok, said 10 other lawmakers from Nakuru, Homa Bay and Nyamira counties had also been summoned.
He said the party disciplinary mechanisms would soon kick in and they will inform the public in due time on the committee's next cause of action.
However, the Coast lawmakers led by Coast Parliamentary Group Vice Chairperson, Saidi Hiribae (Galole MP), said the defiant lawmakers only decided to work with Ruto to ensure development in their regions.
The ANC lawmaker wondered why ODM would discipline its members for working with the national government.
"We have never seen other parties saying they are considering disciplinary action against members who have resolved to walk together. I have never been summoned by my party leader Musalia Mudavadi to be asked why we are moving together as Coast parliamentarians," said Hiribae over the weekend.
The lawmakers further hinted at forming a political movement targeting lawmakers and politicians from the larger Coast region, ahead of 2022.
The move comes weeks after a section of Msambweni residents held a press briefing in support of the lawmaker, accusing ODM of frustrating him for no reason.
The residents challenged Athuok's Committee to first summon Raila since he was the one who declared support for Jubilee before the likes of Dori following suit.
"We stand firm with our MP as he embraces the handshake initiative. Suleiman Dori is supporting Ruto in the spirit of handshake," said one of the residents.
A section of Malindi residents also held protests in support of Jumwa over the matter.