House team wrangles persist

Parliament’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has once again failed to resolve a deadlock over its leadership.

A meeting held Thursday and chaired by Deputy Speaker Farah Maalim, ended without a resolve among the members on who is to replace Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba should the no-confidence vote against him succeed.

It is understood that the members pushing for the ouster of Mr Namwamba are uncomfortable with an informal proposal that Kisumu Town West MP Olago Aluoch, who is also from ODM, become chairman.

MPs who attended the meeting told the Nation that they prefer Chepalungu MP, who is seen to be a rebel within ODM, take over from Mr Namwamba.

However, the MPs mainly from PNU complained that Mr Maalim, who chairs the Liaison Committee, appears to support the idea that Mr Aluoch should become chairman if Mr Namwamba is ousted.

The matter was dragged to the floor for the third time this week as Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo asked the Speaker to intervene and break the deadlock in the crucial team.

She accused the Liaison Committee of failing to act on the matter, which falls within its mandate and was brought to its attention two months ago.

Mr Marende said the Liaison Committee was yet to brief him on the report on the row and the House could only act once that report is tabled.

He said the matter would be discussed exhaustively and MPs even have the option of disbanding the committee if a motion is presented to that effect.

Mr Ruto had made the same accusation while contributing to debate on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Bill on Wednesday.

“I am told that the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs is in limbo. It may be so but it is more to do with the leadership by the Office of the Chairman of the Liaison Committee,” said Mr Ruto. 

“That matter should have been sorted out and it is a shame that, up to this hour, we have not resolved the problems in the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs. That Committee is capable of working and delivering to this House as it has always done,” he added. 

Kimilili MP Dr Eseli Simiyu also asked that the wrangle be sorted out and said the “membership of the Committee is a victim of impunity".

The committee’s work is crucial because it has the mandate to scrutinise all constitutional bills as well as collect views from the public and other interest groups in the preparation of bills. 

The latest calls to have the wrangle sorted out are to have the team collect and consider the public’s views on the key reform bill currently being debated. 

On Wednesday, Mr Aluoch asked the team to set aside their differences for the time being, discuss the bill, present a report and later sort out the leadership issues. 

Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni (PNU) said the IEBC bill risks being perceived negatively if the public is not given a chance to have their input into it. 

The Nation learnt that the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and the Interim Independent Electoral Commission are some of the groups that have sent in their views. 

At Thursday’s meeting, the committee was told that they are expected to meet Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Tuesday to brief him on their progress. 

The committee is scheduled to meet again Friday.