CORD threatens to discipline 'rebels'

Kwale, Kenya: CORD plans to take disciplinary measures against rebel legislators from Coast, a top official has announced.

The coalition's Minority Chief Whip Thomas Mwadeghu, who is also Wundanyi MP, said in Kwale on Saturday that any member who contradicted its stand on various national issues would be censured.

Mr Mwadeghu did not specify the nature of disciplinary action to be taken, but sources indicate they may include removing some of them from key House committees.

"It is either you are with us or against us. It is their (rebels) right to associate with whoever but the party has its disciplinary mechanism that will be deployed at an opportune time," said Mwadeghu.

CORD has been considering removing the rebels from House committees since June.

"The decision has been agreed on and once Parliament reconvenes, the coalition will take disciplinary action against the rebels and reward those who are loyal," said an MP from Coast region who requested anonymity as he did not want to be seen to be fighting his colleagues from the region.

PLANNED SANCTIONS

He said there were "genuine concerns" that the rebels were undermining CORD's programmes hence the planned sanctions.

Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi yesterday said while the coalition allows members to hold divergent opinions, it will not hesitate to discipline those who contradict its policies.

"It is one thing to differ with the party and another to undermine its policies. Though I'm not privy to the decision to replace them, I think it is long overdue," said Mr Mwinyi in an interview.

Kilifi North MP Gideon Munga'ro is among notable MPs from the region who have in the past publicly criticised the party's position on various issues, which saw him stripped of his National Assembly minority whip post in July.

The application to remove him from the House Business Committee is still pending in the Assembly.

"Though the party has written to Parliament regarding its decision to replace Mung'aro, such a decision will have to be subjected to a vote in Parliament," said Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani, who is allied to Mung'aro.

Other Coast legislators believed to belong to the Mung'aro camp include Kilifi Woman Representative Aisha Jumwa, her Kwale counterpart Zainab Chidzuga and Kilifi South MP Mustafa Iddi.