Jubilee rebel MPs vow to defend their committee posts
Moiben MP Silas Tiren, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter at the Milimani Law Courts on December 27, 2017 where they had gone to petition the court to quash decision to dewhip them from house committees. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The rebel MPs went against their party's wishes to run for posts in the parliamentary committees. The party already had preferred leaders.
- The rebel MPs say they will defend their positions and fight protect Parliament from interference by the Executive.
Jubilee rebel MPs, who are facing ejection from their committee leadership positions for defying their party bosses, have said they will fight to the end to protect the institution of Parliament from Executive onslaught.
This comes even as National Assembly Clerk Michael Sialai sanctioned a meeting on Tuesday next week to discuss their removal, following a petition by Githunguri MP Gabriel Mukuha.
PARTY WISHES
MPs James Gakuya (Embakasi North) and Silas Tiren (Moiben), who spoke at Parliament Buildings on Friday, told President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto to respect the independence of Parliament.
They said they did nothing wrong in getting elected to the committee leadership.
“This is totally a new trend that is killing and demeaning the institution of Parliament. We have given the executive space to do their work; nobody interferes with their powers. They should respect MPs and not intimidate and bully them into submission,” Mr Gakuya said.
Nandi Hills MP Mr Alfred Keter and his Marakwet East counterpart Kangogo Bowen are also facing ejection for working their way to their respective committee leadership positions against the party’s preferred individuals.
ELECTIONS
In the elections conducted in December last year, Mr Keter defeated Bura MP Ali Wario, who was Jubilee’s man for the Labour and Social Welfare Committee, while Mr Tiren beat Mandera South MP Adan Haji Ali for the leadership of the Agriculture Committee.
Mr Gakuya also went against the wishes of Jubilee to be elected chairman of the Parliamentary Broadcasting and Library Committee.
Mr Bowen defeated Ijara MP Sophia Abdi, who was Jubilee’s choice for the vice chairperson of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Mr Alex Kosgey (Emgwen) was de-whipped despite losing the leadership of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to Kieni MP Kanini Kega, who had the blessings of his party.
“I hereby serve you with the notice from the members and invite you to a meeting of the committee,” Mr Sialai said. The meeting will be held on January 23 at 10am, a day before the court rules on their de-whipping case.
“The agenda will be to consider a vote of no confidence in the chairperson.”
SUMMONS
The MPs, who rushed to court and obtained orders stopping their party from removing them from their committees until the case is heard and determined, asked the Jubilee leadership to respect the outcome.
“What is the reason of toiling to be elected only to become a puppet of the executive? It is dangerous! It will kill the oversight role of Parliament. Let the three arms of government remain independent of each other,” Mr Gakuya said.
On Thursday last month, the president and his deputy summoned the affected committee members to State House.
PETITION
The rebel MPs did not attend as they were separately engaged elsewhere but their colleagues were reportedly told to sign a vote of no confidence petition against their respective committee leaderships.
“I am disappointed at what happened a State House. Our colleagues were forced to sign a vote of no confidence against us. What happened to the doctrine of separation of powers? Kenyans will judge them harshly,” Mr Tiren said.
On Thursday, Mr Keter said that Jubilee leadership is keen on working with people they can arm-twist.
“They want people they can control but I will not allow them to get away with it,” he said.
