Blame game rocks TNA over suspension of nominated Senator Joy Gwendo

The National Alliance party officials from Nyanza region address the Press in Kisumu yesterday, where they opposed the expulsion of nominated Senator Joy Gwendo. [Photo: COLLINS ODUOR/standard]

The National Alliance (TNA) officials are divided following the suspension of nominated Senator Joy Gwendo.

Ms Gwendo was de-whipped from all Senate committees and also recommended for expulsion by the party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) over gross misconduct.

Some TNA officials from Nyanza accused Secretary General Onyango Oloo of being responsible for the senator’s woes.

Speaking at a Press conference in Kisumu, the leaders accused Mr Oloo of dictatorial tendencies, adding that he was using his relationship with Jubilee alliance to intimidate politicians and parastatal heads from the region for self-gain.

The officials petitioned the top party organ to suspend him and investigate his alleged involvement in the woes facing Gwendo.

“We indeed call upon President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene because Oloo is spoiling the gains Jubilee alliance has made in Nyanza,” said Yusuf Ooko who leads a faction of the TNA leadership in Nyanza as regional co-ordinator.

Kisumu branch TNA officials allied to the faction denied a letter purportedly addressed to the top party organ asking for disciplinary actions against Gwendo.

“She works well with the party and the Kisumu office has no conflict with her. We will write a letter to the political party’s tribunal to express our reservations with the manner in which her case was handled,” said Argwings Kodhek, the Kisumu branch co-ordinator.

But in a quick rejoinder, Oloo called a separate Press conference in town, accompanied by another faction of the regional officials to deny the allegations, insisting the decision was not political.

“I have personally mentored Gwendo and I have been waiting to reconcile her with the Kisumu branch office. There is no way I could have played part in the problems bedeviling her,” he said.

“On the allegation that I am intimidating parastatal heads from Nyanza, I wish to confirm that the Jubilee government is firm in the fight against corruption and I cannot stop particularly in areas where I can influence,” he added.

UNFAIRLY TARGETED

Women leaders in the country also came to Gwendo’s defence, claiming she was being unfairly targeted by the party.

Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo (ODM) said: “I may not be a member of TNA but the Constitution gives me a right to complain when I see discrimination based on gender or ethnicity.”

“What has Joy Gwendo done to bring shame to your party that is worse than what Moses Kuria (Gatundu South MP) has done?” she asked.

Nominated Senator Martha Wangari, who had faced a similar situation said: “It did happen with my party UDF and now it is my colleague in TNA. We will fight to the end.”

Should Gwendo be expelled, she will lose her position and will subsequently be replaced through due process. But the senator faulted the decision, citing an ill-motivated attempt to push her out of TNA.

“The efforts of these mercenaries will come to naught,” she said, adding that she has remained a loyal and committed member of the party.

She continued: “This is a political decision reeking of tribal, gender and sectoral harassment, which must not be allowed to stand in modern Kenya. The NDC did not give us the particulars of the charge and deliberately delayed judgment to hamper our appeal.”

Homa Bay County TNA officials now want National Chairman Johnson Sakaja to rescind the decision to suspend Gwendo.

Party chairman in Karachuonyo constituency Charles Amenya attributed Gwendo’s tribulations to personal differences with some officials in Kisumu TNA office.

 “What is happening is that there are some TNA officials in Kisumu who implicated Gwendo in unfounded crimes. These people want to sacrifice Gwendo for their personal advantage in the party,” he said.

Rangwe MP Kevin Ondeyo faulted a statement made by the party disciplinary committee that Gwendo was supporting the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy agenda in the Senate.

“These people have not shown us any evidence to support their allegations,” said Mr Ondeyo.