Uhuru Allies Now Threaten To Impeach Ruto

Jubilee Party members argued that the Bill would grant Members of Parliament (MP) powers to table motions seeking the impeachment

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jun 9, 2023 - 12:33 Updated: Jun 9, 2023 - 12:36
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Uhuru Allies Now Threaten To Impeach Ruto
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta with President William Ruto during the launch of the National Defence Policy and Gender Policy documents at the National Defence College, Karen on May 3, 2017. /NAIROBI NEWS

A section of Jubilee Party members allied to former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday, June 8 declared their plans to introduce a Bill providing grounds for impeaching President William Ruto for meddling with the affairs of political parties.

Speaking after holding its inaugural National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting since the controversial National Delegates Conference (NDC), Jubilee Party members argued that the Bill would grant Members of Parliament (MP) powers to table motions seeking the impeachment of the Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua.

Former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament and embattled Jubilee secretary general, Jeremiah Kioni, who was addressing the media, noted that the move was informed by Kenya Kwanza's interference with the affairs of the Jubilee Party.

In addition, Kioni argued that the Bill would restore normalcy in the political space after Ruto went on a rampage, courting opposition politicians into the Kenya Kwanza camp and amassing more influence in Parliament.

Embattled Jubilee Party Secretary-General, Jeremiah Kioni during a press conference at Jubilee Party headquarters on June 8, 2023. /THE JUBILEE PARTY

"We want to have a law where, in future, people who hold different positions and interfere with parties just like Ruto, Gachagua and now Wetangula (National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula) face impeachment motions," Kioni stated.

Kioni expressed that he would lead the Jubilee party in mobilising its members to support the Bill, despite warning that they face a Goliath battle because Ruto enjoys the majority in Parliament.

"We will try and see if the MPs will pass that Bill. If they fail, others will pass it in Parliament," Kioni added, insisting that Jubilee would explore other alternatives in the event Ruto outsmarts them.

According to the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, a president can be impeached for violating the Constitution, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours. Notably, no President in Kenya has ever been impeached.

Raila Complains Regarding Loss Of MPs To Ruto

Azimio La Umoja party leader, Raila Odinga, threatened to resume protests if Ruto continued to interfere with political parties, which was one of the demands made by the coalition during the bipartisan talks before it began to collapse.

The former Prime Minister was the victim of a mass exodus as several MPs decamped to join Ruto, who beat him in the 2022 general elections.

Azimio Action Against Sabina Chege

Azimio also threatened to file a motion to impeach Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula over his refusal to allow its motion kicking out Sabina Chege from the NA as Deputy Minority Whip.

Minority Leader, Opiyo Wandayi threatened to bring a motion of no confidence in Speaker Wetangula, accusing him of consistently being biased against them.

“Things cannot continue in this manner in this House anymore, and we have decided to bring a motion of impeachment against the person of Moses Wetangula as the speaker, and we expect him to prioritize that motion,” said Wandayi on Thursday, June 8.

Chege was caught in chaotic scenes at the National Assembly, with National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro revealing that she was targeted by Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo after Wetangula's ruling.

According to Osoro who spoke on Citizen TV, Odhiambo tried to forcefully eject Chege from her seat which manifested into chaotic scenes which were not caught on camera within the House, and a fistfight that led to Sabina Chege allegedly being hit and injured with a bottle.

"What happened is after the Speaker made the ruling, Millie Odhiambo rose from her seat and moved straight to Sabina and tried to pull her from the seat of the Deputy Minority Whip, physically.

"It actually hurt Sabina, she is in hospital as we speak, and it's really very sad," Osoro revealed, without diving into details regarding the hospital she went to for privacy reasons.

Side-by-side image of South Mugirango MP, Sylvanus Osoro and Nominated MP Sabina Chege escorted outside Parliament after being injured on June 8, 2023. /VIRALTEAKE

Sabina Chege is allied with East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega who has been leading a faction that has been frustrating Kioni's efforts to take control of the former ruling party. 

Kioni vs Kega

She was elected the chairperson of the rebel outfit, with Kega allegedly ousting Uhuru as party leader. The Ruto allied faction also expelled Kioni and embattled Jubilee vice chairperson, David Murathe.

In response, Uhuru, in the NDC held at Ngong Race Course on May 22, moved to expel Kega and Chege from Jubilee.

However, the Office of The Registrar Of Political Parties (ORPP) on Friday, June 2, dismissed the resolutions made during the NDC, with Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu writing to Kioni, indicating that Uhuru's party had failed to meet the requirements that would lead to her consideration of the resolutions passed on Monday, May 22.

"Reference is made to the above subject matter and your letter dated May 23, 2023, submitting various documents, including, a notice convening the Special NDC meeting May 22, 2023.

"You also sent a notice of change of venue and resolutions of the Special NDC meeting of May 22, 2023. However, following a review of the submitted documents, this Office is unable to address the substance of the resolutions for non-submission of requisite documents," Nderitu stated.

Nderitu noted that the documents submitted by Kioni's faction were lacking a duly signed list of attendance with their identification Numbers (IDs) to ascertain the composition of the NDC and quorum in line with articles 8.1(1) and 23 of the Jubilee Party (JP) constitution.

"You also failed to submit a comprehensive Minutes of the NDC meeting to, inter alia, determine the process and mode of election given that only an extract of Minutes was submitted. Owing to the above, the documents submitted are incomplete," Nderitu added.

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