Oppositon targets dissident MPs

CORD MPs led by Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi address a press conference at Parliament buildings where they confi rmed the replacement of National Assembly Minority Whip Gideon Mung’aro with Wundanyi MP Ludidi Mwadeghu. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

Oppositon targets dissident MPs

Kenya: CORD officially wrote to the Speaker of the National Assembly communicating the removal of Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro as the Minority chief whip.

This comes as it emerged the Opposition leadership is pursuing more rebel lawmakers for sanctions.

Minority Leader Francis Nyenze wrote to Speaker Justin Muturi yesterday to report that the coalition had replaced Mung'aro with Wundanyi's Thomas Mwadeghu.

But Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi wants Mung'aro subjected to a fair hearing by CORD leadership.

"Any shortcuts to wrestle Mung'aro from the National Assembly's Minority Whip post will be unfair as natural justice dictates that Mung'aro be given fair hearing," he reiterated.

Speaking yesterday in Kaloleni on the sidelines of health equipment donation to several health facilities in three counties, Kingi said CORD should be ready to listen to voices from the coast.

But sources have told The Standard that more MPs who were seen to have rebelled against CORD for dalliance with the ruling Jubilee coalition are targeted.

The Opposition is understood to be evaluating some of the actions and in particular public declarations by its members who have vowed to back the ruling alliance, and plan to activate their disciplinary measures to punish rebels.

Among those targeted is Kwale Woman Representative Zainab Chidzuga who has been vocal in her opposition over the planned CORD activities.

A CORD insider told The Standard that it was a matter of time before Ms Chidzuga is kicked out for her open defiance to pave way for a by-election.

She was among elected leaders from Kwale who met President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House on Wednesday and has in the recent past vowed to work with the Jubilee coalition.

Other MPs who are targeted include her Kilifi counterpart Isha Katana and Msambweni MP Khatib Mwashetani of Ford Kenya.

Yesterday, CORD said the action against Mung'aro was a warning shot to those in his league.

The Opposition has also written to Mung'aro asking him to hand over all records and properties belonging to the minority whip to Mwadeghu.

"This purge has just begun and there are many more casualties on the way," Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, who led about 20 CORD MPs at a press conference, said.

 

Homabay MP Peter Kaluma and his Suna East counterpart said the Opposition would rather have 20 loyal members than maintain the current number, daring those dissatisfied to defect and seek fresh mandate.

"I am issuing a notice to those errant members that we are coming for you and particularly some MPs from Coast who we know have been warming up to Jubilee," Junet said.

He sensationally claimed some party members were beneficiaries of prime beach plots, which are allegedly dished out by Jubilee to woo them from the Opposition into working with the government.

"The line has been drawn, not the red line but the line and we are telling them that the die is cast," Kaluma said.

Yesterday, Ms Katana, Ms Chidzuga and Mwashetani said they could not respond to the threats until they receive a formal notification of the intended disciplinary letters.

"I am the deputy party leader of Ford Kenya and the one who will make such a decision and for now there is nothing like that," said Mwashetani.

Ms Chidzuga said, "I will not respond to that since I have not received any communication. I am treating that as a rumour."

"CORD has a responsibility to put its house in order from time to time. Going into the referendum, CORD deems it desirable to reorganise and re-energise its leadership. We also urge our members to internalise the provisions of the constitution, the political parties Act and our respective party constitutions and codes of conduct," a statement read by Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi said.

The Opposition parties want to apply provisions of Section 14 of the political parties Act that states "a person who while being a member of a political party, advocates for formation of a another party or promotes the ideology, polices or interest for another party will be deemed to have resigned."

During the joint PG on Tuesday held at a Boma hotel that unanimously adopted a resolution to kick out Mung'aro, a section of Coast MPs fighting the push for a referendum and who have previously declared they would work closely with the Jubilee government, were put to task.

Their fellow legislators who have remained loyal to the Opposition bitterly attacked their colleagues who have been attending Jubilee functions.

Some ODM MPs from the region last week skipped the Iftar (dinner to break the Muslim fast during Ramadhan) organised by Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho, and attended by Raila as well as Wetang'ula, Senator Hassan Omar, Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi and his Nyali counterpart Hezron Awiti. It was reported that Raila was angered by the snub.

The fallout in CORD started last month when Ruto visited Kwale and Kilifi counties to preside over high-profile meetings before Uhuru visited Taita-Taveta last week.