On Thursday, June 8, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna accused President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza side of interfering with his role as Senate deputy minority whip.
In a media interview, Sifuna lamented that the majority side, allied to President Ruto, inhibited his role. According to the opposition politician, Jubilee Party members still enlisted as Azimio Coalition members were not honouring his directives.
The accused members were also said to be transacting business on behalf of the government, affecting Azimio’s oversight role.
In particular, Sifuna indicated that he could not marshall the rebel Jubilee members to support Bills and Motions tabled by the minority side led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Senator Edwin Sifuna (far right) and other Azimio leaders join Raila Odinga for a service at St. Stephen's ACK Church on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
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Raila Odinga
Besides refusing to promote businesses lodged by Azimio in the Senate, Sifuna lamented the rebel Jubilee members also avoided picking up his calls and were skiving meetings organised by Azimio.
“As a Deputy Minority Whip at the Senate, I understand that I serve at the pleasure of my delegation. Right now, I can disclose to you that as a Deputy Whip in the Senate, I am unable to whip the members of Jubilee because they are being whipped from elsewhere,” Sifuna stated.
“They attend parliamentary groups at State House not the ones that I call. If there is no quorum in a committee, the committee chair cannot call me and ask me where Fatuma Dhullo is, because if I call her, she will not pick my call for a fact,” he added.
According to Sifuna, Kenya Kwanza was interfering with the independence of political parties, which he claimed could have damaging impacts on democracy and the legislative role.
His sentiments followed plans by Azimio MPs to impeach Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula. Their sentiments came shortly after the Speaker declined to approve the ouster of Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege as the deputy minority whip.
“Things cannot move in this manner in this House, anymore. We have decided to bring a motion of impeachment against the Speaker of National Assembly, Moses Wetangula,” National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi stated.
“We are drafting the motion and it will be ready by next week. We think this house is under wrong leadership,” he added.
Wetangula declined to remove Sabina, arguing that the matter was active in court.
Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula at a thanksgiving service in West Pokot on Sunday, April 30, 2023
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Moses Wetangula
