Opposition MPs vow to disrupt House proceedings over Wandayi suspension
ODM chairman John Mbadi (wearing cap) flanked by MPs Fred Outa, Peter Kaluma and Oburu Odinga at a fundraiser in Bondo on July 15, 2016. The MPs gave House Speaker Justin Muturi until Tuesday to lift the suspension of Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi. PHOTO | NELCON ODHIAMBO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ugunja MP received a stay order stopping Speaker's decision but his suspension hasn't been lifted.
- ODM chairman John Mbadi claimed the expulsion was a move by the governing Jubilee coalition to gag Cord leader Raila Odinga’s lieutenants.
- Nyando MP described the Speaker’s decision as an insult to the Judiciary which is an independent arm of government.
A section of Orange Democratic Movement MPs have vowed to disrupt parliamentary proceedings on Wednesday if the National Assembly Speaker does not lift the suspension of Ugunja member Opiyo Wandayi.
On Friday, the MPs said the decision by the Speaker to block Mr Wandayi from accessing Parliament was not only against the Constitution but also a violation of a court order.
Mr Wandayi was expelled from the House until the end of the session for misconduct but received stay order from High Court two weeks ago.
However, the Speaker is yet to effect the order which is now the subject of discussion in a House committee.
ODM chairman John Mbadi claimed the expulsion was a move by the governing Jubilee coalition to gag Cord leader Raila Odinga’s lieutenants.
“We demand that the Speaker reinstates Mr Wandayi by Tuesday next week failure to which we will disrupt all the parliamentary proceedings from Wednesday,” said Mr Mbadi.
He was accompanied by Nyando MP Fred Outa, Dr Oburu Oginga (Nominated) and Dr Gideon Ochanda (Bondo).
Mr Outa described the Speaker’s decision as an insult to the Judiciary which is an independent arm of government.
The MP added that the High Court was superior to the Powers and Privilege Committee of Parliament to which the matter has been referred.
“Mr Muturi should know that he is the Speaker because the Judiciary declared Uhuru Kenyatta the president. He should uphold the court order as a show of respect for the institution that made him who he is today,” said Mr Outa during a fundraiser in Bondo.
Dr Ochanda also faulted the Speaker saying each arm of government had a role to play, cautioning that Mr Muturi’s move could precipitate a constitutional crisis.
The Bondo MP stated that the Judiciary was the arbiter between the Executive and Legislature.
“Each arm of the government should respect the other. Keeping Mr Wandayi out of Parliament is unjust to the people of Ugunja,” said Dr Oginga.
(Editing by Joel Muinde)
