Sabina Chege Loses In Bid To Overturn Parliament Ouster

Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege has lost her position as the National Assembly Deputy Minority Whip.

This is after the Kiambu High Court on Monday, October 9 dismissed a petition by Chege which sought to overturn a decision by Azimio la Umoja to replace her with Embakasi West Member of Parliament Mark Mwenje.

This means that Mwenje is set to be the new Depurity Minority Whip in the 13th Parliament.

"Kiambu High Court has thrown out the petition challenging the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance's decision to replace Hon. Sabina Chege with Embakasi West MP, Hon. Mark Muriithi Mwenje as the Deputy Minority Whip in the National Assembly. 

Photo of Embakasi West MP, Mark Mwenje. /JUBILEE PARTY

"We now demand that Speaker Moses Wetangula ratifies the decision and allow Hon. Mark Mwenje to serve," stated the Jubilee Party.

Azimio on Tuesday, May 30 announced Mwenje as Chege's replacement during the Azimio la Umoja Parliamentary Group meeting.

"In furtherance of those resolutions by Jubilee NDC, Azimio has today settled on Hon. Mark Mwenje, MP, Embakasi West, as Deputy Minority Whip of the National Assembly, replacing Nominated MP Hon. Sabina Chege, who has since joined the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

"We recognize Hon. Mwenje as a committed, consistent, energetic and youthful fighter who has shown the will to stand up for the people and the party. We have no doubt that he will prove equal to the task," National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, stated.

Chege on Wednesday, June 7 called upon National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula to provide assistance to her ahead of her removal as the Deputy Minority Whip.

"The best thing I did was not to run away from them but just think bigger picture about Kenya. As they plan to remove me as Deputy minority whip Mr Speaker, I hope that you look at me with a better eye," she said during the National Prayer Breakfast held at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi.

"There is nothing wrong I have done. The only thing I have done is to think about Kenya first and not myself. Hopefully, Kenya is going to rise."

24 hours later, Speaker Wetangula prevented Chege's ouster and directed that she continue executing her duties, citing a petition filed in court against which was filed by her lawyer, Dennis Kivuti.

This would however spark confrontations that forced Wetangula to suspend her for two weeks as well as Suba North Member of Parliament Millie Odhiambo for the same period. Others suspended included Rozaah Buyu (2 weeks), TJ Kajwang (2 weeks), Fatuma Mnyanzi (5 Days), Catherine Omanyo (5 days), Joyce Kamene (2 sittings). 

Odhiambo was among Azimio who vehemently protested Wetangula's decision not to allow the ouster of Chege from the position.

The speaker allowed Sabina Chege to continue serving as the Deputy Minority Whip until when the cases she filed will be heard and determined. 

"Honorable members from the foregoing, my hands are tired with regard to the court order that has been brought to my attention," he said.

"Until and unless further information is provided, that this order has been varied or set aside, the court order effectively suspends the decision by the minority party on the replacement of Sabina Chege as the deputy minority whip."

Jubilee Party has been in a protracted legal battle over its leadership, with the Chege-led faction fighting the Uhuru-led wing to control the party and millions in the kitty. 

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has indicated that he would not quit the party, maintaining his allies in key positions after the fallout with Chege and Kanini Kega group, who have since moved to work with Kenya Kwanza.