Ole Kina handed reprieve by ODM, dances back into fold
Embattled Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina got a major reprieve yesterday after his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party reversed a decision to remove him from House committees.
In a statement to newsrooms, ODM leader Raila Odinga said Senator Kina had agreed to withdraw a case he had filed against the party over the ,chairmanship row.
That is in addition to apologising to the party and surrendering the Senate CPAIC chair seat.
“In return I’ve instructed the party to reverse the decision to de-whip the Senator,” Raila said.
Early this month, Senate Minority leader James Orengo (ODM) gave a notice indicating the party’s wish to dewhip him from the CPAIC and the Senate Business Committee (SBC).
“I hereby give a notice of the discharge and removal of Senator Ledama ole Kina from the CPAIC and SBC,” Orengo said in the notice to Speaker Kenneth Lusaka dated May 7.
Though, it was not clear why Ole Kina was also de-whipped from the SBC, the Senator moved to the corridors of justice and sued the Senate, Speaker Kenneth Lusaka as well as Minority Leader James Orengo and the Attorney General over the matter.
Justice Weldon Korir granted a temporary order barring ODM from removing him from coveted positions in two disputed committees.
In his ruling Justice Korir ruled that unless the legislator is granted with the reprieve, his case will be overtaken by events hence his move to stop ole Kina’s removal from the position.
“Senator Ledama Ole Kina has this morning agreed to withdraw the case he had filed against the ODM party over the Senate Public Accounts Committee chairmanship, surrendered the seat and apologized.
In return I’ve instructed the party to reverse the decision to de-whip the Senator,” stated Odinga.
During the election to succeed Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang whose term ended, Ledama secured five votes against Ongeri’s four in his quest to chair the powerful Senate watch-dog committee.
Ledama’s victory was however cut short after Minority Leadership communicated to the Speaker rejecting the election of the Senator.
ODM’s move to reject his election did not go down well with Ole Kina, who protested the move saying he was democratically elected and vowed not to relinquish his position.
He even went ahead to chair the committee in spite of protests from ODM.
The Senator later said he had consulted widely over the issue signalling a change of heart.
“My support for ODM leader Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta is solid and unshaken,” he stated.
