ODM deputy party leader Hassan Joho yesterday warned that the party will not tolerate violence and hooliganism ahead of the August 8 election.
The Mombasa governor hit out at party members fanning violence, saying they will be held accountable.
He urged Director of Criminal Investigations Ndegwa Muhoro to hasten investigations into individuals accused of perpetrating chaos within the party.
Joho spoke in Nairobi after appearing before the ODM disciplinary committee investigating politicians accused of perpetrating violence
The team is chaired by Nairobi lawyer Fred Athuok.
“I am calling for speedy investigations so it can be a lesson that ODM doesn’t tolerate violence,” Joho said.
He had been summoned in connection with the April 3 violence in Migori in which his bodyguard was shot and wounded after skirmishes erupted at a rally attended by several senior party members.
“Someone must be held to account and pay the price,” he said.
Party bigwigs accused of fanning violence appeared before the disciplinary committee yesterday to clear their names ahead of primaries, which start on Thursday.
They include governors Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) and Okoth Obado (Migori), nominated Senator Elizabeth Ongoro and Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’.
Others were Senators James Orengo (Siaya) and Anyang’ Nyong’o of Kisumu, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and his opponent John Pesa.
Ongoro said she is a victim of campaign violence.
The panel is racing against time to conclude the probe and hand in recommendations to the National Executive Council before Thursday.
But Athuok said the report will be ready today and those found culpable will be reprimanded, suspended or even expelled from the party.
Ongoro is accused of storming Orange House — the party headquarters — with hired goons who roughed up executive director Oduor Ong’wen.
Kajwang’ accused Ongoro of using the gender card to intimidate male opponents. “Nobody is sacred in the party,” he said.
Obado blamed his opponents for the Migori violence that saw gunshots fired.
Ojaamong said he was not the aggressor and should not be blamed for the violence that rocked a rally in Funyula last Friday.
“I have brought a lot of video and photography evidence capturing people [throwing] stones and laughing,” he said.
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