Azimio MPs threaten to paralyse House business over Sabina Chege's position

By Peter Ochieng 

Members of Parliament (MPs) aligned to the opposition, Azimio La Umoja One Kenya have threatened to paralyse parliamentary business on Thursday next week.

The legislatures led by leader of minority in the National Assembly James Opiyo Wandayi want National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetang'ula to with immediate effect, effect changes that removed nominated MP Sabina Wanjiru Chege, from position of deputy minority whip.

Despite being nominated by Jubilee, a constituent party of Azimio, Chege, the former Murang'a Women Representative declared her support for president William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration, months after the August, 2022 polls.

Irked by the decision, Azimio leaders removed her from the position and replaced her with Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje.

The changes are however yet to be communicated to the House by Speaker Wetang'ula, five months later.

In an address to the press at Parliament buildings on Thursday, Wandayi said enough is enough.

“If the court order issued on October 19 is not effected by the Speaker and Mwenje allowed to carry out his duty then there will be no business in the House of Parliament on Thursday when the House resumes sittings,” warned the Ugunja MP.

“This has to stop in one way or the other. We are being taken round in circles. Meanwhile those who went to court on this matter are now running around to seek further orders to stop the change. You don’t have to be a lawyer to know what games are being played.”

In June, Speaker Wetang'ula declined to effect the changes after a case was filed in Kiambu to stop Chege's removal from office of deputy minority leader.

"On one hand, the minority party has met all the procedural requirements to effect the change of its leadership. On the other hand, I am confronted by a court order that specifically cited both the Speaker and the House as parties to a judicial process that seems to challenge an administrative process."

“Despite the sympathies I may hold for the predicament the minority party finds itself, this House has consistently demonstrated its willingness to abide by orders of the court relating to the exercise of its quasi-judicial and administrative function. Even where certain orders have been adverse to the interests of the House, we have dutifully obeyed them and set aside the orders that we were not in agreement with,” ruled the Speaker, then.