Parties get green light to expel wandering MPs

By ISAAC ONGIRI

More than 100 MPs who have abandoned their political parties ahead of elections could be kicked out of Parliament if their parties pass resolutions to expel them.

Such a development could trigger a mini-General Election to replace the MPs. Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u now says she would not hesitate to write to the Speaker asking him to declare such seats vacant if she got expulsion letters and copies of minutes of legally developed resolutions from the mandated organs.

ODM officials with Acting Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u when they submitted registration papers. The party has the longest list of MPs who have shifted their loyalty to other outfits. [PHOTOS: FILE/STANDARD]

The move could trigger a financial crisis at the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which is concentrating on laying grounds for the General Election expected later this year or early next year.

If affected parties act, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and ministers Kiraitu Murungi, Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Njeru Githae, Eugene Wamalwa, Assistant Minister Peter Kenneth, and MPs Abdikadir Mohamed (Safina) and Kiema Kilonzo of ODM-Kenya (now Wiper Democratic Movement) could be among several top guns kicked out of Parliament for associating with other political parties.

The Acting Registrar said the Eldoret North MP and several legislators supporting him who recently featured at her office to present papers for their new party, have been registered as members of ODM, and not United Republican Party (URP).

Ruto is considered the de facto leader of URP. Ndung’u said that a data analysis of the list presented by ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o showed that Ruto and all his allied MPs are members of ODM. "Ruto and all the MPs, who came here told us that they had accompanied the URP officials as friends of the party.

Investigations and data analysis we have conducted now indicate he is a registered member of the ODM," the registrar told The Standard On Sunday. If the affected political parties act, Parliament could collapse as passage of motions that require three-thirds majority may beimpossible. But Ndung’u said her office will act if parties sought to implement the provisions of the political parties, warning that nobody would be favoured in the on-going implementation of the Political Party’s Act as long as party’s adhere to the law in executing the expulsions.

But even as Ndung’u insisted on political parties documenting complaints and giving minutes to her office for action, Article 17 of the Act presumes that individuals who have advocated for the formation of another political party are deemed to have automatically resigned.

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