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Purge moves to National Assembly in renewed Uhuru, Raila House cull

Tuesday, May 26th, 2020 00:00 | By
Jumwa sends warning shots to Amason Kingi
Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa.

Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

It is now a matter of when, not if, as Jubilee Party’s broom now moves to the National Assembly to effect another brutal purge on House leadership, committees and membership to the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).

After effecting changes to the Senate leadership, the party hierarchy in concert with Orange Democratic Movement party have now trained their guns on perceived key allies of Deputy President William Ruto in changes that will see President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga literally take control of both their political parties and Parliament.

The looming purge comes barely days after the removal of Senate Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindiki.

In what looks like a co-ordinated exercise, the new working partnership between Uhuru-Raila alliance now moves to powerful PSC which will see key changes in the composition of its membership.

Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot, who voted against Kindiki’s ouster motion together with six Jubilee senators is on the chopping board alongside rebel Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa.

Spirit of the Constitution

National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi said though the process of removing a commissioner is not the same procedure of removing people from committees, anything is possible.

“Party loyalty is very important. Those who are not interested in following the party which have assigned them critical functions – remember, for you to be a commissioner the party has to propose your name.

The party has to appoint you to that position. Why would the constitution give the party responsibility and when you get to that position, then you start defying that party?” posed Mbadi.

He added: “That will not be the spirit of the Constitution. Therefore, those who have been appointed to that commission cannot just behave as they wish. I think they will in for a rude shock.” 

Jumwa identifies herself with “Inua Mama, Njenga Nchi” a women lobby group championing Ruto’s 2022 presidential campaigns.

Mbadi, who is the ODM chairman said they are exploiting all options to make sure that only members who are loyal occupy positions of responsibility courtesy of the party.

“So, we are likely to work with Jubilee very closely in ensuring that we bring changes to any organ including the PSC.

We know that one of the commissioners who is sitting in PSC, that is from ODM has not been supportive of ODM agenda. In fact, she is behaving like she has literally left the party,” he said.

But in what seems to be the President’s relentless quest to crack the whip on dissenting members of the party, Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata said the Jubilee party will continue with its purge now shifting to the senate committees and PSC.

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