The political tremors within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have claimed another victim, with Saboti MP Caleb Amisi unceremoniously removed from the National Executive Committee (NEC) via a WhatsApp message.

The haphazard removal exposes the deepening fissures within Kenya’s opposition party, as internal power struggles and realignment battles threaten to tear the once-cohesive political machine apart. For a party that champions democracy, the digital dismissal of a senior official reeks of autocracy and frantic gatekeeping.

The "Illegal" Dual Role

The official reason for the purge is bureaucratic: Article 92 of the ODM constitution prohibits officials from holding two party positions simultaneously. Amisi, recently elected as the Trans Nzoia County Chairperson, was told his new role automatically extinguished his tenure as the Deputy National Organizing Secretary. The letter, signed by Executive Director Oduor Ong'wen, was delivered not in a boardroom, but on a smartphone screen.

Amisi, however, is not buying the technicality. He views his ouster as a calculated political hit, linked to his vocal opposition to the party's "broad-based" cooperation with the government. "I am the first casualty of this coup," he declared, aligning himself with other party rebels like Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino.

• Procedural Flaws: Amisi argues that due process was ignored. "The NEC must meet and unanimously agree... you don't just write a letter from Bondo and send it on WhatsApp," he fumed. He insists on a right of reply and a fair hearing, luxuries that seem in short supply in the current ODM climate.
• The Bigger Picture: This move is widely seen as a consolidation of power by the pro-government faction within ODM. By removing independent voices from the NEC, the party leadership is paving the way for a smoother, unquestioned alliance with the ruling coalition.

Testing the Waters

Amisi has vowed to challenge the decision through internal dispute resolution mechanisms, but the writing is on the wall. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-5)"They are testing the waters by pushing out those who are not backing the new order," he warned.

As the ODM ship steers towards new political waters, it seems willing to throw some of its most vocal crew members overboard—even if it has to do it via WhatsApp.