Opposition MPs now cry foul over House committee purge

Taveta MP Naomi Shaban, Kilifi South MP Mustafa Idd (in jeans) and other Jubilee leaders campaign for Mr Philip Charo at Alaskan Ground, Malindi. Mr Idd says he is campaigning for an individual not a party. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Kilifi South MP Mustafa Idd and Kwale Woman Rep Zainab Chidzuga on Thursday said they were not accorded any hearing or warning before ODM made the decision to remove them from parliamentary committees.
  • The MP said that there was a political scheme against “the so-called ODM rebel MPs”  being pushed by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho “who are in control of the party”.

Two Coast rebel Orange Democratic Movement MPs have criticised their party as dictatorial and unfair to the people they represent.

Kilifi South MP Mustafa Idd and Kwale Woman Rep Zainab Chidzuga on Thursday said they were not accorded any hearing or warning before ODM made the decision to remove them from parliamentary committees.

The two leaders who are allied to coast ODM rebel leader and Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro denied campaigning for Jubilee in Malindi.

Mr Mung’aro is also the Chairman of Coast Parliamentary Group.

Mr Idd and Ms Chidzuga said they were campaigning for an individual, not a political party. The Malindi parliamentary by-election will take place on March 7.

They said they took the decision because the ODM nomination for the seat was flawed.

“What ODM has done is undemocratic. I was elected to represent my people in Parliament and in committees. Removing me from such committees amounts to partial representation,” Mr Idd said by phone.

He added that he supported Mr Philip Charo of Jubilee to protest flawed nominations in ODM, which saw Mr William Mtengo emerge top.

The MP maintained that he was still in ODM and his Sh20,000 monthly contribution to the party was up to date.

“ODM is perpetuating dictatorship which it purports to fight. We are pushing for reforms in ODM and the party needs to listen to us and accommodate divergent views,” he said.

The MP said that there was a political scheme against “the so-called ODM rebel MPs”  being pushed by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho “who are in control of the party”.

Saying that changes always come through rebellion, Mr Idd added that ODM should listen to them as they had genuine grievances over the leadership style at the coast “where few individuals control the affairs of the party”.

For her part, Ms Chidzuga said they threw their weight behind Mr Charo after the “controversial” ODM primary, insisting that Mr Sanga Barawa beat Mr Mtengo but was denied the party ticket.

“We cannot be forced by ODM to support somebody who lost in the nominations. The primary was flawed and that is why we decided to support an individual and not a party in the by-election,” she said.

Mr Mung’aro turned to the government when he was dismissed as ODM parliamentary Chief Whip and replaced with Wundanyi MP Thomas Mwadeghu.

Also working on the government side with the Mung’aro group is Lunga Lunga Ford-K MP Khatib Mwashetani.

The by-election was occasioned by the appointment of Mr Dan Kazungu, an ODM MP, as Mining Cabinet Secretary.

Meanwhile, Jubilee candidate Philip Charo has cautioned against politics of hatred.

Addressing a rally at Muyeye in Shella Ward, Mr Charo urged residents to gauge the seven candidates before casting their ballots.

“Do thorough analysis on them. Ask them to tell you more about themselves,” he said.

He challenged his rivals and other parties to give their agenda.

“Some of them do not have any agenda but only want positions for their selfish needs,” Mr Charo said.

Mr Mtengo and six other candidates have for the last two days been carrying out door-to-door campaigns in the constituency with 57, 483 voters.

Kilifi ODM Vice-Chairman Teddy Mwambire said Cord had formed three groups for the door-to-door campaigns.

The Jubilee team, led by Mr Mungar’o and Kinango MP Gonzi Rai has been traversing the vast constituency, drumming support for Mr Charo.

The group, which also includes Mr Peter Shehe of Ganze and Mr Mwashetani campaigned at Lango Baya and held a rally near Mwangea Girls Secondary School.

And at another rally in Kwa Ngala, Mr Reuben Katana of Kadu-Asili promised to look into problems afflicting residents such as unemployment, low education standards, poverty and land matters.

Miji Kenda Kaya elders’ choice David Mangi of Shirikisho Party was expected to begin his door-to-door campaign yesterday.

He said his team would concentrate in the grassroots and advised residents “to vote for a party that understands our problems”.