Ekuru Aukot expelled from Thirdway Alliance over misconduct

Thirdway Alliance has expelled party leader Ekuru Aukot after he was found guilty of misconduct.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) said Wednesday that it found Dr Aukot culpable of five offences.

The party’s secretary-general Frederick Okango said Dr Aukot was found guilty of the following offence; financial impropriety, misconduct, verbal assault of the party’s officials, disregard of the rule of law and disobeying court orders.

Exonerate himself

The official said Dr Aukot rejected the fairground offered to him by the party to exonerate himself.

Okango claimed Dr Aukot opted to use uncouth channels to resolve the differences between party officials by allegedly hiring goons to disrupt the party’s NEC meetings where he had been invited to explain himself over the charges raised against him.

Dr Aukot is accused of failure to account for over Sh500 million party funds since 2017.

“There will be zero-tolerance of impunity in this party. From any party member regardless of their status and party rank,” Okango said.

He added: “We do not see any reason why we should carry baggage. Lazima tupunguze mzigo.”

Skip meeting

Last month, the party’s national chairperson Miruru Waweru convened two meetings and invited Dr Aukot and another unnamed party member to shed light on accountability matters.

But Dr Aukot skipped the meetings.

Later in the month, Dr Aukot is alleged to have caused chaos at the party offices and police from the Muthangari Police Station had to be called in to restore peace.

Following his actions, the party officials moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and raised a complaint. They also applied for orders restraining Dr Aukot from accessing the party offices. Their request was approved.

On Wednesday, the deputy party leader, Dr Angela Mwikali was named as the interim party leader

“I thank my NEC colleagues for bestowing upon me the trust to be the acting party leader of Thirdway Alliance Kenya and I pledge to work together with the team while adhering to every constitutional provision in steering the party to greater heights that can only be an envy to many of our competitors. I will not be a master but instead be a servant-leader as we work to popularise the party.” Dr Mwikali said.

Dr Aukot dismissed his ouster saying the matter was yet to be determined by the court. 

“The matter is still in court. I do not know why those guys (NEC) are jumping the gun. They initiated the suit and this matter is still before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal. Let them have fun for now. Let them do what they want to do. We will know the way forward when the court decides. I will not comment on a matter that is still in court,” he told the Nation.