Sakaja changes tune in senator suspension

TNA chairman Johsnson Sakaja has said that the party will review the suspension from the party of nominated Senator Joy Gwendo.

Mr Sakaja said the disciplinary committee’s decision was not final.

He denied claims that TNAs decision to suspend the senator was politically motivated by the fact that she comes from the Opposition stronghold.

“I have seen the report from TNA’s national disciplinary committee on Ms Gwendo and (Moses) Kurias’s case. I want to assure Kenyans that justice is going to be given to the two because Jubilee is a coalition of fairness and justice,” said Mr Sakaja at a funds-drive in Butula, Busia County yesterday.

Senator Gwendo is now seeking legal redress to fight an ouster bid by her party.

This is after the TNA disciplinary committee suspended her on Friday following allegations that she disrespected the party and supported their arch rival ODM.

Ms Gwendo was handed an indefinite suspension further recommending to the party’s National Oversight Board that she be expelled – a matter the senator said her lawyers will now deal with.

“The charged member has in her conduct brought the name of the party and the office she holds into disrepute,” the ruling reads.

Ms Gwendo was also accused of disrespecting her party’s branch in Kisumu.

The nominated senator, in a statement to the press, expressed her “extreme disappointment with the ruling”.

“This is a political decision reeking of tribal, gender and sectoral harassment which must not be allowed to stand in modern Kenya,” she said.

Ms Gwendo complained that the committee did not give her the particulars of the charge.

She said the judgement was deliberately delayed to hamper her appeal citing an ill-motivated attempt to push her out of TNA. “The efforts of these mercenaries will come to naught. TNA is the party I have worked for and believe in,” Ms Gwendo said.