Opposition cracks down on rebel MPs

The Opposition has removed three Wiper MPs from National Assembly committees as its crackdown on rebels continued Wednesday.

Mr John Munuve (Mwingi North) could become the first MP to lose his seat after the party expelled him over remarks he made in the House.

Others removed were Ms Regina Ndambuki (Kilome) and Mr Joe Mutambu (Mwingi Central).

Mr Munuve was a member of the Energy, Information and Communication and the Justice and Legal Affairs committees.

“I feel liberated, liberated from the tyranny of dictatorship. Liberated because as a democrat, who believes in the freedom of free thought, I have been constrained to be led by people with mediocre brains masquerading as leaders and  forcing themselves to lead us,” said Mr Munuve.

He said he would slaughter a goat to celebrate his “liberation”.

He said some people in the Opposition had on their hands the blood of people who were killed in the struggle for multiparty democracy. His statements angered his Opposition colleagues.

Deputy Whip Chris Wamalwa sought to have him sanctioned for suggesting that Minority Whip Thomas Mwadeghu was the one with a “mediocre brain”.

The Speaker ordered that the Hansard be examined to ascertain if that was true.

Mr Wamalwa said the Opposition would use the Hansard, Parliament’s official record of proceedings, as evidence that Mr Munuve had denounced his party and should, therefore, be struck off the register. This would render him party-less and, therefore, liable for removal.

“This is like football. If you’re playing and one of your players keeps scoring own goals, you’re better off without him. We’ll do it and we are ready for the consequences,” said Mr Wamalwa.

He said this was the culmination of the decisions reached during the Parliamentary Group meeting last Tuesday.