Jubilee MPs oppose anti-Ngilu motion

From left, MPs Samuel Gichigi (Kipipiri), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) and Irungu Kangata (Kiharu) during a press conference at Parliament, Monday, where they defended Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu over her work in the docket. [Photo:Boniface Okendo/Standard]

By Geoffrey Mosoku and Francis Ontomwa

Nairobi, Kenya: Embattled Lands, Housing and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu got a reprieve after Jubilee Alliance leaders opposed a planned censure Motion against her.

Jubilee coalition MPs yesterday said they will not support the planned Motion by Eldas MP Adan Keynan (ODM), as Ngilu fought back claims of violating the law while carrying out ministerial duties.

Ngilu claimed MPs plotting to remove her from office are a case of “graft fighting back”.

Speaking in Budalangi Constituency Monday, where she commissioned two markets, she accused her detractors of executing the ‘warped mission to oust her from the powerful docket’.

“They know what I have done, they know what I stand for and it’s my fight against graft in the Lands ministry that has shaken my enemies but I will not be cowed,” she said.

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Jubilee support

She added: “This is a job I was given by President Uhuru Kenyatta and I will not cede ground for anybody or anything,” she said.

In Nairobi, Leader of Majority Aden Duale said that under the law, any MP can introduce a Motion in the House seeking the removal of a Cabinet secretary but warned the Jubilee coalition will not be party to it.

“Keynan or any other MP is at liberty to introduce such a Motion but the Jubilee position is that, it’s too earlier to commence such proceedings and thus we will shoot it down when it comes to the House,” Duale told The Standard.

Per the law

The Majority Leader said that, for now, the National Assembly through Clerk Justin Bundi will write to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua to communicate the resolution of Parliament.

“The clerk will write to the Executive, who are expected to implement the resolution of Parliament and failure to do that, then the House can have a recourse as per the law,” he added. Duale said it will be premature for MPs to plan a censure Motion even before the resolution of the House is implemented. 

Keynan’s planned Motion was also opposed by Jubilee coalition MPs Irungu Kangata (Kiharu), John Njoroge (Kasarani), Samuel Gichigi (Kipipiri) and Vincent Musyoka (Mwala).  “Our attention has been drawn to Press reports that Keynan is planning a Motion to eject Ms Ngilu from office. We do not support the Motion for several reasons and we shall rally MPs to oppose the same,” Kangata told reporters at Parliament.

The legislators said it was suspicious that CORD MPs were behind the move, adding that Ngilu was one of the pillars of the ruling coalition, who actively campaigned in the last pols and thus cannot be brought down.