Lunga Lunga member of parliament Khatib Mwashetani is among 16 members of parliament who have been relinquished from their positions in parliament committees.
Issuing a statement in parliament, National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi said that such action was as a result of a notification he got from the Jubilee chief Whip Emmanuel Wangwe informing him that 16 MPs have been discharged from their membership from various committees.
Mwashetani had been serving as the vice-chair of the lands committee chaired by Dr. Rachel Nyamai.
Standing Order 176 (Discharge of a member from a committee) provides that a parliamentary party may discharge a Member from a select committee after according the Member an opportunity to be heard.
The parliamentary party whip of the party that nominated a Member to a select committee shall give notice in writing to the Speaker of the intention to discharge a Member from a select committee.
Thus the Speaker shall, within three days of receipt of the notice inform the Member of the notice.
Those affected include Hon. Ali Haji Adan, who stands discharged from the Departmental Committee on Agriculture & Livestock, where he has been serving as the Chairperson; Hon. Kimani Ichung’wah, discharged from the Budget & Appropriations Committee, where he has been serving as the Chairperson.
Gladys Boss Shollei discharged from the Select Committee on Delegated Legislation, where she has been serving as the Chairperson and Hon. William Cheptumo discharged from the Departmental Committee on Justice & Legal Affairs, where he has been serving as the Chairperson.
Also (Dr.) Victor Munyaka discharged from the Departmental Committee on Sports, Culture & Tourism, where he has been serving as the Chairperson and John Koyi Waluke, discharged from the Departmental Committee on Administration and National Security, where he has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson.
Fred Chesebe Kapondi discharged from the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee, where he has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson and (Dr.) Robert Pukose, discharged from the Departmental Committee on Energy, where he has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson; Hon. Alice Wahome, discharged from the Departmental Committee on Justice & Legal Affairs, where she has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson and Joyce Chepkorir Koech, discharged from the Departmental Committee on Labour & Social Welfare, where she has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson.
Others include Catherine Waruguru who has been discharged from the Select Committee on Members’ Services & Facilities, where she has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson, James Lomenen Ekomwa, discharged from the Select Committee on National Cohesion & Equal Opportunities, where he has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson.
Liza Chepkorir Chelule, MP stands discharged from the Select Committee on Parliamentary Broadcasting & Library, where she has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson and Cornelly Serem, MP stands discharged from the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry Cooperatives, where he has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson.
Consequently, Hon. Moses Kuria, HSC, MP stands discharged from the Departmental Committee on Transport, Public Works & Housing, where he has been serving as the Vice-Chairperson.
“Hon. Members, in this regard, I wish to report to the House that my office is in receipt of a letter dated 16th June 2020 from the Majority Party Whip, notifying that the Jubilee Party has discharged sixteen (16) of its Members from certain Select Committees .”Muturi said
He noted that for those who have been discharged, it has been effected immediately.
“Hon. Members, having perused the documents through which the Jubilee Party transmitted the decision to discharge the said Hon. Members, I am satisfied that the process leading to the discharge met the requirements set out in Standing Order 176. Accordingly, the discharge of the said Members takes effect immediately.”Muturi
Both houses , Senate and National Assembly have witnessed a series of purges that have reportedly been targeting Ruto allies in the political sphere.
According to Standing Order 179(2) , Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson of a select committee, the Clerk shall, within seven days of the vacancy arising, appoint a place and time for the meeting of the committee to elect the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson.
Also, Standing Order 173(3), stipulates that a vacancy occasioned by resignation or removal of a Member from a select committee shall be filed within fourteen days of the vacancy.
