A viral video of Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok declaring his support for Deputy President William Ruto was enough to prove Nanok defiance from the party.
However, the party now terms his defiance as a rumour after claims of the party having arouse. ODM has been accused of always acting in a favour of some members while sabotaging others like the case of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa.
Speaking in Lokichar in Turkana on Saturday last week, the county boss switched allegiance, noting that he has joined Ruto’s bandwagon ahead of his 2022 presidential ambitions.
However, the party on Saturday said that it has not received any written complaint on the issue from its branch representatives, making Nanok’s declaration a rumour.
It said that Nanok’s case is different from that of Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa who has since been suspended, also for crossing over to the DP’s side, noting that an official complaint has been made in her case.
All disciplinary cases are acted upon on reccomendations by the local party branch. Hon. Jumwa's case was drawn to the party attention in a minuted communication from Malindi Branch. No such communication has been received from Turkana so it is treated as a rumour >P.E.
— The ODM Party (@TheODMparty) May 17, 2019
“All disciplinary cases are acted upon on recommendations by the local party branch. Hon. Jumwa’s case was drawn to the party attention in a minuted communication from Malindi Branch. No such communication has been received from Turkana so it is treated as a rumour,” the party tweeted.
On Wednesday, the party’s Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna and National Chair John Mbadi downplayed Nanok’s purported exit, saying that it was expected as the latter has been dormant.
Nanok added that he will also be in the front line against the proposed referendum which the DP is opposed to.