National Parliament Archives

Tuju Speaks on Whether Duale Will Survive The Jubilee Purge or Not

by Mustafa Juma May 29, 2020

Jubilee party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has spoken on whether National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale will survive the ongoing purge or not.

Tuju, in an interview with a local daily made an official confirmation that the purge is now headed to the National Assembly, after the senate.

Speaking on Duale’s fate, Tuju said that President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the Jubilee party boss will have the final say.

Duale is seen to have meticulously pushed through government business in Parliament and moderates in Jubilee have suggested he should be spared.

However, he is also being accused of being among the elite politicians around DP Ruto who have opposed the handshake between the President and ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Also facing the sack are Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali and his deputy, Cecily Mbarire.

The Jubilee National Executive Council is to meet anytime from Friday to set the agenda for the Parliamentary Group meeting tentatively set for Tuesday next week.

“We are on standby. The itinerary of the boss [Uhuru] is very full. But the NEC can even meet on Saturday or Sunday. It all depends on the President’s availability because he chairs the NEC,” Tuju was quoted by the local daily.

About two weeks ago, Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen and his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika were removed as the Senate Majority Leader and the Majority Whip, respectively.

With the President’s blessing, Senate Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindiki was impeached in a historic vote that exposed Deputy President William Ruto’s now-shaky grip on Parliament.

Allies of the DP have vowed to even gatecrash the Jubilee Parliamentary Group meeting at State House.

Snubbing a similar meeting two weeks ago turned disastrous for the Ruto brigade after the President marshaled the requisite numbers to kick out Murkomen and Kihika.

In a clear change of strategy, defiant MPs allied to the DP said they are ready to meet face-to-face with Uhuru and make their case.

May 29, 2020 0 comment

Politics

Senator Ledama Wants Parliament to Surrender Its International Trips Budget to Combat COVID-19

by Mustafa Juma April 1, 2020

written by Mustafa Juma

Narok County Senator Ledama Ole Kina has asked Parliament to surrender all its international and local trips budget to help in combating coronavirus pandemic.

Taking to his official twitter account on Wednesday morning, the ODM lawmaker said the Ksh 200 million donated by the senate on Tuesday is no enough.

He suggested that should the money be surrendered by the parliament, it should be divided amongst the 47 counties to modernize open air markets and isolation centers.

“Parliament should surrender all its budget for international/local trips to combat #COVID19KE Ksh 200M donates by senate is nothing!The money should be divided amongst 47 counties to modernize open air markets/isolation centers! No to food ratios it won’t help!” he tweeted.

Parliament should surrender all its budget for international/local trips to combat #COVID19KE Ksh 200M donates by senate is nothing!The money should be divided amongst 47 counties to modernize open air markets/isolation centers! No to food ratios it won’t help! @citizentvkenya
— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) April 1, 2020

The vocal lawmaker further asked the executive and the judiciary to also surrender all of their budgets for international and local trips, to be used for the same purpose.

He says that people should be independent, rather than just depending on hand outs, since Kenya is an industrious nation.

“The executive/judiciary should also surrender all its budgets for international and local trips! What we want is our people to be independent not Dependent on hand outs! We are an industrious nation not beggars! I say no to food ratios make their working environment #COVID19 free,” he added.

The executive/judiciary should also surrender all its budgets for international and local trips! What we want is our people to be independent not Dependent on hand outs! We are an industrious nation not beggars! I say no to food ratios make their working environment #COVID19 free
— Sen. Ledama Olekina (@ledamalekina) April 1, 2020

The Senate on Tuesday afternoon surrendered Sh200 million from its budget to aid in the fight against the now most dreaded coronavirus disease.

The announcement was made by Speaker Kenneth Lusaka when the lawmakers reconvened after a two-week break.

The speaker said the house has yielded the cash from the Senate budget allocation in the current financial year, to aid in the efforts of the government to fight the disease.

He said the decision was made by a Senate Business Committee during its sitting on Monday to support the government’s efforts to combat the virus.

Kenya on Tuesday reported nine new coronavirus cases bringing the total number of people with the virus to 59.

Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi said the nine were from 234 samples tested in the last 24 hours.

She said 1,160 people who have come into contact with the positive cases are being monitored.

Mwangangi also said the government will use boarding schools as isolation for testing and treating coronavirus patients should the situation get worse.

April 1, 2020 0 comment

Politics

VIDEO: Sonko threatens to storm Parliament buildings should Duale ignore this order

by Mustafa Juma July 16, 2019

written by Mustafa Juma

Nairobi Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko has threatened to call upon a mass demonstration to storm the National Assembly if Majority leader Aden Duale does not withdraw a petition by Members of Parliament seeking their salary increment.

The Nairobi County chief has given Duale a 14-day ultimatum to comply with his directive.

This comes barely a day after Sonko launched a scathing attack against Duale over MPs’ greed. The attack came when Sonko and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria took their Wanjiku crusade to Mombasa.

Sonko through his facebook page on Monday sought for historic support from members of the public, civil society, comrades and religious leaders in storming the National Assembly if Aden Duale does not withdraw the proposed salary and allowances increment

“I do hereby seek for historic support from members of the public, civil society, comrades and religious leaders in storming the National Assembly if Aden Duale does not withdraw the proposed salary and allowances increment at the expense of taxpayers within the next 14 days,” Sonko angrily threatened.

He however asserted that the demonstration will be legal and within the confinements of the constitution.

“We shall comply with all the due constitutional and legal requirements to ensure the success of this demonstration and protect the rights of the people of Kenya,” Sonko assured.

Sonko believes that sovereign power belongs to the people, and only donated to elected leaders as enshrined in Article 1 of the Constitution of Kenya.

MPs are pushing for a salary increment and some, like Suba MP, Millie Odhiambo blamed her constituents for making her go broke, alleging that her salary was stretched to the limit because of contributions and handouts.

July 16, 2019 0 comment