Jubilee wants Muturi, Ruto-allied lawmakers to refund salaries, perks
The ruling Jubilee party will move to court to recover perks earned by MPs who have decamped to join other political parties.
If effected, the move would affect the Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi who has shifted to the Democratic Party (DP).
Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka is also a marked man as he has indicated he is planning to join Ford Kenya.
Over 130 MPs have left the party to the Deputy President William Ruto led-United Democratic Alliance but are still earning allowances and enjoying other perks in Parliament.
Party secretary-general Jeremiah Kioni (pictured) told People Daily that the MPs were illegally earning the salaries and allowances since they had left the party that sponsored them to Parliament.
The issue came up during the last National Delegates Conference chaired Party Leader, President Uhuru Kenyatta, and members agreed that action should be taken against defectors.
“The Constitution is clear that once you shift to another party you cease holding office. It is a matter of integrity and the group should stop earning allowances or enjoy any perks drawn by MPs,” Kioni said.
He added that the party will notify the Parliamentary Service Commission to strike out the MPs who have decamped to other parties.
Interestingly, the commission is chaired by Muturi and it will be interesting to see how he will handle the matter should it be brought before him.
Speaker response
“We will not be sparing the Speaker. He has moved to another party and the moral thing is to relinquish his position. It is a matter of integrity,” said Kioni.
But when contacted, Muturi dismissed the threat and urged Kioni to go ahead with his plans.
“They can even bring an impeachment motion. It will be very good for me,” Muturi said.
He reminded Kioni to go back to history and see what happened when TNA and URP dissolved and merged to form Jubilee.
“Were members of these two parties forced to return the money they had earned after they joined Jubilee Party,?” posed Muturi.
Lawyer Charles Kanjama says the threat to refund allowances was a non-starter : “MPs are paid by Parliament as legislators not party members. The only thing a party can do is to de-whip them from positions and in case of the Speaker, impeach the holder.”
