Contention in Kisumu over minority leader seat

By RUSHDIE OUDIA

KISUMU COUNTY: Confusion continued to reign in Kisumu County assembly regarding who is the official minority leader.

Embattled minority leader Edwine Anayo and the person said to have replaced him, Joshua Auko, scrambled for the seat as members watched from a distance.

Anayo had come in and sat at his usual spot before Auko came to demand that he lets him take over the minority leader’s role, owing to the decision by party members to throw out Anayo.

This was a decision dismissed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Omingo Magara last week. Magara had warned that any attempt to remove Anayo would be contrary to the law.

Magara said this after a group of members drawn from PDP allegedly stripped Anayo of his powers as the minority leader alleging gross misconduct by the member in and outside the assembly.

Wednesday, East Seme Ward Representative Aggrey Ogosi said the assembly cannot be turned into a market place.

Kelvin Odhiambo (Kolwa East) said the law prohibits the Speaker from arbitrating on an issue pitting parties.

AGAINST LAW

According to the assembly Standing Orders 16 sub section 1, the minority party or coalition of parties in the county assembly shall elect a member belonging to the party or coalition of parties to be their leader. Under sub section 2, a member elected may be removed by a majority of votes of all members of the minority party or coalition of parties in the county assembly.

The standing orders also states under sub section 3 that the removal of a member from office shall not take effect until a member is elected in the manner provided for under paragraph (1).

And members who ousted Anayo did not communicate to the Speaker as required by the law.