ANC and Ford Kenya lose key seats in purge

Kakamega Assembly Minority leader John Ngome (centre) addressing the press at the Assembly on June 18, 2020. Ngome replaced David Ndakwa of ANC party. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Fireworks are expected at the Kakamega County Assembly after David Ndakwa of Amani National Congress (ANC) was replaced as the House Minority Leader by John Ngome of United Democratic Party.

The changes were made despite an existing court order from the Political Parties and Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) as well as the High Court barring the house from making any changes until the matter was heard and determined.

Ndakwa moved to court after a motion to have him removed from the minority position was filed by ward reps drawn from UDP, Jubilee and an Independent MCA.

They argued that the minority seat belongs to them and that ANC was not the bonafide minority party at the assembly since they belonged to the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition, which binds them together until 2022 elections.

“ANC and Ford Kenya belong to NASA coalition and therefore they jointly form the majority side at the assembly. John Ngome of UDP, the Lwandeti MCA is now the new Leader of Minority replacing David Ndakwa,” ruled House Speaker Morris Buluma.

The ruling by the Speaker also saw the removal of Kholera ward MCA Godliver Omondi, who was the Deputy Minority Leader. He was replaced by Harrison Shikuku (Koyonzo Ward). Idakho East MCA Benson Mulinya is the new Minority Whip, taking over from Geoffrey Ondiro (Marenyo-Shianda MCA).

The Deputy Minority Whip is now Christine Imbosa, a nominated MCA of UDP who takes over from Kongoni ward MCA Josephat Mwasame. Kevin Mahelo (Butali Chegulo) of Jubilee is the new chairman of the powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC), taking over from Rodgers Nato (Bunyala East), while Lumakanda ward rep Leyla Muhandale (independent party) was selected to join the Speaker's panel.

With the new changes at the assembly, the House majority party bringing together NASA coalition affiliate parties will now have 84 MCAs, while the minority party will have five.

“We want to welcome ANC and Ford Kenya parties back home (majority side) after our able Speaker made a ruling over the impasse on House leadership positions,” said Joel Ongoro, the assembly’s Majority leader in a presser after the changes.

Ongoro said with the changes, all House committees would be reconstituted to include members of ANC and Ford Kenya in the lucrative positions in the next 14 days.