Azimio MPs take on Wetang'ula over Chege removal delays

They accused the Speaker of playing games over their House leadership changes.

In Summary
  • Wandayi said the delay has incapacitated the opposition from executing its mandate in the House, accusing the Speaker of playing accomplice.
  • The speaker said there was no ground for the Opposition to get aggressively agitated over the matter as he will give a detailed ruling on Thursday.
Leader of Minority in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi when he appeared before the Public Petitions Committee on 3/5/2023
Leader of Minority in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi when he appeared before the Public Petitions Committee on 3/5/2023
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A

Azimio has protested Speaker Moses Wetang'ula's failure to communicate changes on its leadership in the National Assembly.

Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi accused Wetang'ula of frustrating the Opposition by failing to communicate the decision to kick out deputy minority whip Sabina Chege.

The Ugunja MP said the delay has incapacitated the Opposition from executing its mandate in the House, accusing the Speaker of playing accomplice.

"It is not the mandate of the Speaker or the majority side to decide for us who will be our leaders in this House," Wandayi said.

"It is now almost a month since we wrote to you, that delay means that our side is incapacitated, we cannot manage our affairs properly because of a vacancy in our leadership."

The MP wondered why the speaker has remained unclear about when he will issue a communication about the changes made by Azimio.

"We expected you to communicate the same to the House on April 11 but you did the unexpected by opening up debate and failing to give a firm undertaking as to when you would make that communication,'' Wandayi charged.

The Standing Orders require that changes made by either side of the House must be first communicated to the Speaker who should in turn do the same on the floor of the House.

It is until then that the changes take effect.

When he rose to respond, Wetang'ula admitted that he did not provide the timelines for delivering the communication but insisted he will do it on Thursday.

The Speaker said there was no ground for the Opposition to get aggressively agitated over the matter as he will give a detailed ruling on Thursday.

"I can assure you that I will deliver it tomorrow, you will get the content and the outcome of that,'' he told Wandayi.

Azimio, the minority side in the National Assembly, replaced Chege for allegedly shifting her loyalty to Kenya Kwanza.

Earlier on Wednesday, a standoff ensued in the House after Eldas MP Adan Keynan referred to Chege as the Jubilee Party leader.

While standing on a point of order, Keynan wondered why Wandayi had referred to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta as the leader of Jubilee.

Opposition MPs halted the session for minutes as they shouted in protest to Keynan's remarks before order was restored.

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