The crack in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has widened into a chasm. Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has come out guns blazing, vowing to challenge his removal from the party’s National Executive Council (NEC), terming the move a "kangaroo court" decision made before the jury even sat.

Amisi’s defiance throws the spotlight on the deepening internal rifts within Kenya’s main opposition party. He claims he received his dismissal letter before the NEC meeting in Mombasa—the only body mandated to sanction such a removal—had even convened. "This is a hit job," Amisi declared, his tone laced with the bitterness of betrayal. The "So What?" here is critical: ODM, once a monolith of discipline, is fracturing under the weight of competing loyalties, and Amisi is the first major casualty of this new internal war.

Procedural Anarchy

The MP’s argument hinges on a blatant violation of due process. According to the party constitution, the NEC must deliberate and vote on disciplinary matters. Amisi asserts that the decision was pre-cooked, served by invisible hands to silence dissent. "The NEC meeting sitting in Mombasa should be the one to remove me before I receive the letter," he argued, exposing what he calls a mockery of party democracy.

This is not just about one MP losing a seat at the high table; it is about the soul of the party. Amisi has categorically ruled out vying on an ODM ticket if the party enters a coalition with the ruling UDA, a rumor that has been swirling in political corridors. His stance positions him as a rebel with a cause, fighting against what he perceives as the party's capitulation to the government.

• The Pre-Emptive Strike: The issuance of the removal letter before the formal meeting suggests a decision made by a cabal rather than a committee.
• The UDA Factor: Amisi’s refusal to align with any UDA-leaning faction within ODM signals a potential exodus of members who feel the opposition has lost its way.

The Mombasa Showdown

As the ODM brass gathers in Mombasa, the atmosphere is toxic. Amisi’s challenge is a gauntlet thrown at the feet of the party leadership. If they proceed with the removal without addressing the procedural flaws, they risk alienating a youthful and vocal base that Amisi represents.

The Saboti MP is not going quietly. He is preparing for a legal and political battle that could expose the underbelly of ODM’s internal power struggles. For now, the Orange party is peeling, and the rot is visible for all to see.