Raila, Mudavadi differ over purge on Ruto’s allies

ODM leader Raila Odinga and his ANC counterpart Musalia Mudavadi (above) have differed over the ongoing purge on National Super Alliance (NASA) MPs believed to be allies of Deputy President William Ruto.

Yesterday, Mudavadi criticised Odinga’s party and Minority Whip Junet Mohammed (Suna East) for de-whipping MPs from House committees without consulting the coalition’s parties.

The clash in NASA comes in the wake of a ruthless offensive by the Jubilee wing allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta against Ruto’s supporters, which culminated in the removal of Kipchumba Murkomen and Susan Kihika from Senate Majority Leader and Whip, respectively. Deputy Speaker Kindiki Kithure was also shown the door.

The Standard has reliably learnt that the ODM Minority Whip ignored ANC’s list in Parliament and went ahead to remove Butere legislator Tindi Mwale from the committees of Energy, Delegated Legislation and that on Selection.

Yesterday, ANC Parliamentary Group chairman Ayub Savula (Lugari) said Mudavadi had asked him to tell members that the party plans to withdraw membership from allocated committees in solidarity with Mwale, even as Odinga pleaded for patience.

“My party leader called and gave me instructions that our members drop all committees they are serving in. We are to negotiate in solidarity with the Butere MP who has been de-whipped from all committees by ODM,” said Savula.

He said he had raised the same concerns with Odinga and Mohammed.

“Raila has requested that we resolve this matter in-house. We are still discussing the same with Mohammed and hope to reach a compromise tomorrow (today) or escalate the matter further,” Savula added.

Still undecided

Interestingly, Savula said among the party’s 12 MPs, some were not ready to heed Mudavadi’s directive. “Some have agreed while others are undecided. I am still engaging them so that they can speak in one voice under the ANC umbrella,” Savula said. 

As the row over committees raged yesterday, Mwale accused Mohammed of engaging in wild political machinations, claiming that the Minority Whip wanted him to ditch ANC for ODM.

“The reality is that Junet Mohammed has been asking me over and over that I leave my party and join ODM. He kept telling me that so long as I’m still loyal to Mudavadi, I will lose my membership in House committees,” Mwale claimed.

“Let ODM keep the committees, I am no longer interested,” Mwale declared.

ANC had requested that Mwale be included in the Energy and Delegated Legislation committees. ?

In the changes by ODM, Ruto’s ally and Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa lost her membership in the Members Service and Facility Committee. She is also on the verge of losing her plum position in the Parliamentary Service Commission to Likoni MP Mishi Mboko.

NASA also replaced National Assembly Minority Deputy Whip Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini) with Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu.

Bungoma Woman Rep Catherine Wambilianga was removed from Selection, Education and Labour committees while Lodepe Nakara (Turkana Central) lost his membership in the Defence and Foreign Relations committee. Vincent Kemose (West Mugirango) was also kicked out from Transport and Powers and Privileges committees.

Ruto’s ally Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango, Kenya National Congress) was de-whipped from the Agriculture and Committee on Implementation. Movement for Democracy and Growth Party leader David Ochieng (Ugenya) lost the Health Committee membership.

Kicked out

 

MPs Paul Katana and Bady Twalib lost their membership in the influential Public Investment Committee and Budget and Appropriation Committee. As the row over the changes raged, ODM insisted the decision to kick out the MPs was aimed at ending the culture of party indiscipline.

“Coalition discipline is non-negotiable. We must end the culture of leaders benefiting from the strength and support of the party or coalition, then at their pleasure decide to sabotage the coalition. Party positions and privileges must at all times serve the party,” said Mohammed.

The changes came as it emerged ODM was working with Jubilee to share committee leadership positions in the ongoing purge, with observers closely monitoring what the changes would mean for ODM’s partners in NASA.

Mudavadi has, in the meantime, been keeping his political cards close to his chest and has been reluctant to enter a post-election deal with Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party. Independence party Kanu and Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper have, however, entered a pact with the ruling party.

According to the ANC leader, politicians have been confusing voters with the 3Cs of coalition, cooperation and cohabitation.

“We should explain which of the three Cs we are referring to when we speak. As ANC, we are in NASA. If any NASA party wishes to leave, they are free to do so,” he said.

The ANC leader has been hosting delegations of MPs, who include Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma), Dan Wanyama (Webuye West), John Waluke (Sirisia) and Governor Jackson Mandago. Wanyama, Waluke and Mandago are Ruto allies.

Yesterday, the ANC leader held talks with Senator Kimani Wamatangi after a morning meeting with Ruto’s ally, Kimilili MP Didmus Baraza.

“Wamatangi and I held consultations today (yesterday). We spoke about Kenya’s political interests, the state of our economy and the legislative agenda that will help restore hope and rebuild the country in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Mudavadi said.

“We discussed the unfolding political events, matters of democracy and plans to revive the ailing economy,” he said of his meeting with Baraza.

Strategy meetings

On Tuesday, Mudavadi met MPs Savula, Mwale, Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale), Nominated Senator Petronila Were and Christopher Aseka of Khwisero where the discussions around changes in House committee took centre stage.

According to the law regarding coalitions, only political parties with more than 20 members in either the Senate or National Assembly are recognised. Therefore, only Jubilee and ODM can share slots with affiliate parties in the two Houses of Parliament. Some members are unhappy their colleagues were punished unheard.

A parliamentary party may discharge a member from a select committee after according the member an opportunity to be heard, according to the National Assembly Standing Orders 176 on the discharge of a member from a committee.

“The parliamentary party whip of the party that nominated a member to a select committee shall give notice in writing to the Speaker of the intention to discharge a member from a select committee,” says the Standing Orders.

The ongoing changes in the Senate and the National Assembly are widely seen to be the launchpad for the 2022 succession politics.