Wetangula Bars Sabina Chege, Millie Odhiambo, 2 Other MPs For Two Weeks

Wetangula found the seven MPs guilty of gross misconduct after they hurled insults, defied his orders and forced the House to proceed with the temporary break. 

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jun 8, 2023 - 15:14 Updated: Jun 8, 2023 - 15:46
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Wetangula Bars Sabina Chege, Millie Odhiambo, 2 Other MPs For Two Weeks
Sabina Chege during a meeting on April 25, 2023. /FACEBOOK.SABINA CHEGE

National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula, on Thursday, June 8 suspended seven Members of Parliament (MP) for varied periods following the heated clash in the House in violation of Standing Orders.

His decision followed angry confrontations which forced the temporary suspension of proceedings for 15 minutes to allow for tempers to cool down.

Wetangula found the seven MPs guilty of gross misconduct after they hurled insults, defied his orders and forced the House to proceed with the temporary break. 

Speaker Moses Wetangula during a past session at the National Assembly. /FILE

The MPs included Millie Odhiambo (2 weeks), Sabina Chege (2 weeks) Rozaah Buyu (2 weeks), TJ Kajwang (2 weeks), Fatuma Mnyanzi (5 Days), Catherine Omanyo (5 days), Joyce Kamene (2 sittings). 

Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo and Nominated MP Sabina Chege were suspended for two weeks, with Odhiambo among Azimio la Umoja MPs who vehemently protested Wetangula's decision not to allow the ouster of Chege as the Deputy Minority Whip.

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."

His decision enraged the Azimio MPs in attendance who defied orders to leave the chamber, degenerating into uncontrollable shouts, songs and dances that caused commotion within the House.

As a result, Speaker Wetangula sent out Rosa Buyu and Millie Odhiambo, but the two, with the support of their colleagues, stood their ground and refused to obey orders to leave.

Amidst the heat of the moment, Wetangula ordered that the sittings be suspended for 15 minutes to allow for tempers to cool.

"The house will take a recess of 15 minutes. Lower the mace," he directed. 

Wetang'ula had warned that any interruptions during the National Assembly proceedings would attract penalties.

Kenya's Supreme Court judges file into the chamber during the opening of the 11th Parliament in the capital Nairobi April 16, 2013. /REUTERS

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