Win for Azimio as Sabina Chege is removed as Deputy Minority Whip
By Martin Oduor, October 25, 2023
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula today October 25, 2023, approved the removal of nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Sabina Chege as the Deputy Minority Whip for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance.
Wetang’ula declared that Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje was Azimio’s Deputy Minority Whip effective October 25, 2023.
“Mark Mwenje is the Deputy Whip of the Azimio coalition with effect from today, not any other time. If there are any privileges and trapping of that office they will land on him from today, not any other time,” Wetang’ula ruled during House proceeding.
Azimio’s complaints
Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni had earlier complained that Wetang’ula was delaying the removal of Sabina Chege as the Deputy Minority Whip.
In a letter to the Speaker which was posted on Jubilee’s social media accounts on October 22, 2023, Kioni lamented that the Speaker was obstructing Azimio’s decision to replace Sabina Chege with Mark Mwenje.
Kioni noted that the Court had dismissed Sabina Chege’s application to block Azimio from removing her as Deputy Minority Whip on October 9, 2023, yet Wetang’ula was dragging his feet to effect the change.
“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 said.