The ODM party has fined Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris for going against the party position and voting for the Finance Bill, 2023, now an Act.
In a statement on Wednesday, the party said Passaris will have to pay Sh250,000 as a fine for defying the party besides issuing a written apology within seven days.
The party said the resolution was arrived at during a National Executive Committee of the party held on Wednesday under the leadership of Party leader Raila Odinga.
"That Esther Passaris, the Woman MP for Nairobi County be reprimanded for her outright defiance of the party position on the punitive Finance Bill 2023 and that she should issue a written apology to the party within seven days," the party said.
"On top of this, Passaris should be fined Sh250,000 which should be paid within 60 days."
The party said the NEC was convened after a series of meetings held by other party organs including the Central Committee of the party, the Disciplinary Committee and the National Elections Board.
The meeting was chaired by National Chairman John Mbadi.
Passaris was among 28 members of the Orange Democratic Movement who defied the party and voted for the Bill on June 14.
The party said it would also punish lawmakers who were absent during the voting exercise.
During the voting, 176 MPs supported the Finance Bill in its Second Reading and only 81 opposed it.
The following day on June 15, the party’s secretary general Edwin Sifuna said four ODM members supported the Bill while 24 others were absent during voting.
"The Party has therefore commenced disciplinary proceedings against the members," Sifuna said.
Speaking outside Parliament after the 2023-2024 Finance Year Budget Reading, Passaris said she was still an ardent ODM member despite her stand on the Bill.
The County MP defended her decision to support the controversial Bill contrary to her party's position saying she is a representative of both those who voted for her and those who did not.
"I want to tell Kenyans; both those who voted for me and those who did not, immediately we are sworn in as MPs, we swear to work for everyone, not only those who voted for us," she said.
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