MCAs allied to Chepkwony say they’re being demoted

Fifteen Members of the Kericho Country Assembly allied to Governor Paul Chepkwony, who absconded when the assembly was impeaching him, have allegedly been removed from their positions in the assembly.

Speaking to the Press in Kericho town, the group led by the Minority Party Leader Livingstone Kipkoech, claimed they are being targeted for removal for allegedly breaking ranks with their 32 colleagues who voted to impeach Chepkwony on May 14.

“After the Senate threw out the allegations levelled against the governor, our colleagues resolved to remove from house positions every MCA who opposed and absconded debate and subsequent voting in the impeachment Motion,” claimed Kipkoech.

Kipkoech, the Cheptororiet/Seretut Ward representative, said their colleagues began the purge by removing the assembly’s chief whip Sammy Rono.

MINORITY PARTIES

“Before passing the Motion to remove me from my position as the assembly’s Minority Leader, our colleagues had already removed the chief whip. We have information that they are now targeting the Deputy Speaker Jonathan Maritim,” he said.

The ward representative who clinched his seat on Kenya National Congress party faulted the Standing Order No 62 clause, 2 that gives the minority or a coalition of minority parties the responsibility of removing a minority party leader and not the assembly.

Being the only Member of the County Assembly (MCA) who belongs to a different party out of the 46 United Republican Party (URP) MCAs, the position of the minority party leader belongs to him and he cannot be replaced.

Londiani Ward Representative, Jackson Kikwai, who is allegedly being targeted for removal from his position as the vice chairman Planning and Trade committee, asked the speaker, Japheth Kiptergech, to provide direction on the matter.

TRIVIAL MOTIONS

“We are appealing to the speaker to stand up and protect the integrity of the House because if we do not watch out, the assembly would soon be only known for discussing and passing trivial Motions,” said Kikwai.

He also appealed to URP party leader, Deputy President William Ruto to end simmering political wrangles in the assembly.

The assembly’s Deputy Majority Leader John Too warned that they would move to court if the assembly fails to reinstate and proceed to remove the remaining committee chairmen and their deputies in their team from their positions.

He also demanded for the immediate reinstatement of the minority leader  and the  chief whip.

The assembly Majority Leader Daniel Rono admitted that Kipkoech and Rono had been removed from their positions for allegedly missing more than four sessions.

He added that the minority leader had been in office illegally since the Standing Orders indicate a minority leader should represent five per cent of the House, but Kipkoech is the only MCA in the assembly who was elected through an opposition party.