Quit deputy premier post, Mudavadi told

Ten ODM MPs want Musalia Mudavadi to quit the Deputy Prime Minister post saying it was one of the “benefits” of his membership in the Orange party.

Speaking at a news conference in Parliament buildings Wednesday, Fisheries minister Amason Kingi said the position was a party position and that it was upon ODM to decide who was going to occupy the position, given that Mr Mudavadi had resigned as the deputy party leader of ODM.

“There are benefits that one gets for being a member of a political party such as ODM. And because Mr Mudavadi has left (to join UDFP) then he also loses out on the privileges,” said Mr Kingi.

He added that since Mr Mudavadi was not the deputy party leader, then he had no business being the deputy number to party leader, Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“It is impossible to distinguish between beef and beef stew. If you don’t like the beef, you can’t have the stew,” said Mr Kingi.

They quoted section 3(3) of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act which says that it is the job of political parties to nominate their candidate for the position of the DPM.

They asked House Speaker Kenneth Marende and the registrar of political parties Lucy Ndung’u to declare the Sabatia constituency seat vacant, because Mr Mudavadi “had left the party that sponsored him to Parliament”.

“We wish him well, but he should not throw mud and dirt at ODM,” said Mr Kingi.

Mr Mohammed Gabbow added: “We thank him for the bold step of quitting as the deputy party leader of ODM. That’s a very bold move and we congratulate him. But he must give back all that belongs to us. Let him resign or the law will take its course."

The news conference came just hours after Mr Mudavadi quit as the minister for Local Government and as the deputy party leader of ODM.

The secretary of the ODM parliamentary group Ababu Namwamba said the Political Parties Act was explicit that if a member quit a party that sponsored him to Parliament, then they lose their seats.

“He’s no longer a member of ODM, therefore his tenure as the Sabatia MP is untenable, illegal and unconstitutional,” Mr Namwamba said,