A Meru court has issued a temporary injunction restraining businessman Jimi Wanjigi from conducting ODM meetings.
Meru Chief Magistrate’s Court further stopped businessman-cum politician Jimmy Wanjigi from opening parallel offices until the case that has been certified as urgent is determined.
“That this honorable court does hereby issue an order of temporary injunction restraining the respondent from opening any office, calling and meetings of party members, or acting in any other way which is supposed to be the preserve of party officials in any part of the Republic of Kenya pending the hearing and determination of this suit,” the court said on Thursday, December 9.
The orders were issued after Philemon Kiogora, a resident of Meru had moved to court to have Wanjigi barred from opening any party office and assuming duties of party officials.
Wanjigi, who has declared interest to vie for the 2022 presidency on the ODM party ticket, has been opening party officers across the country, especially in the Central region, a move that has not settled well with party officials.
In August, Wanjigi was blocked by police officers from opening a party office in Murang’a, an action even his party appeared to be against.
In September, the Orange party threatened to discipline members opening party offices without express authority from the national office; in a move that appeared to target Wanjigi.
In a statement to newsrooms on Wednesday, September 29, ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna said the party has been receiving alarming reports that there are some members of the party purporting to open offices in the grassroots without reference or consultations with the national office.
“We wish to remind all members that whenever there is a need to open any party office, the same must be done in consultation with the national office failure to which such offices will not be recognized,
“Further note that such brazen violation of the Party’s rule will attract disciplinary action to those involved,” Sifuna said after a meeting chaired by ODM party leader Raila Odinga.
