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Jubilee party has accused National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula of intentionally delaying the removal of Sabina Chege as the Deputy Minority Whip.

In a letter to the Speaker, the Secretary-General of the Jubilee Party Jeremiah Kioni, criticized Wetang’ula for what he described as a deliberate attempt to obstruct the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Coalition Party’s decision to replace Sabina Chege.

“Honourable Speaker, it has come to our attention that there is a concerning pattern of actions that have consistently undermined the integrity of the National Assembly. The actions in question have raised serious doubts about the sanctity of parliamentary processes and the fidelity to democratic principles,” Kioni noted in the letter shared on social media on Sunday, October 22.

Kioni expressed concerns about the delay in communicating and implementing court orders regarding the matter, suggesting that it might enable Chege to seek alternative favourable orders from the appellate courts.

Kioni pointed out that the delay in the removal of Sabina Chege could potentially erode the fundamental principle of fidelity to multi-party democracy in Kenya.

“On October 9, 2023, the court eventually dismissed Sabina Chege’s application. The certified copies of the ruling were duly served to you. However, there have been unjustifiable delays in communicating and implementing the court’s ruling. This delay gives rise to concerns that you are inadvertently enabling Sabina Chege to engage in forum shopping with the intention of obtaining alternative favourable orders from the appellate courts,” Kioni accused

He called on Speaker Wetang’ula to swiftly declare Mark Mwenje as the Deputy Minority Whip, emphasizing that further delays could negatively impact ongoing bipartisan talks.

“As guardians of the democratic process, we implore you to act swiftly and transparently to convey and enforce the Azimio Coalition’s decision, thereby confirming Mark Mwenje as the deputy minority whip of the Azimio Coalition,” Kioni urged.

Kioni also criticized Speaker Wetang’ula’s involvement in what he considered interference with the composition of the majority and minority coalitions within the National Assembly.

He asserted that the composition was determined by the people of Kenya through democratic votes on August 8, 2022, with Azimio having 172 members against UDA’s 165.

Kioni argued that Wetang’ula had no constitutional or statutory justification to declare Kenya Kwanza the majority coalition, emphasizing the sanctity of the electorate’s voice in a democratic society.

“First and foremost you took it upon yourself to interfere with the fundamental composition of the majority and minority coalitions within the house. This was a matter that was rightfully settled by the people of Kenya through their democratic votes on the 8th of August, 2022. Your parliamentary records still confirm that Azimio had 172 members against UDA’s 165. You had no constitutional nor statutory justification to declare Kenya Kwanza the majority coalition. The electorate’s voice is sacrosanct, and any attempt to undermine the choices made by the people is a direct affront to the democratic ideals that our nation holds dear,” he stated.

Wandanyi weighs in on Chege’s ouster

National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi also raised questions about the delays in implementing the court’s order to replace Chege with Mark Mwenje as the Deputy Minority Whip.

In a statement, Wandayi expressed his frustration with Speaker Wetang’ula’s apparent reluctance to act on the court’s ruling.

This comes hot on the heels of a case filed by Sabina Chege contesting the move by the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party to replace her as the National Assembly Deputy Minority Whip.