ODM leaders defend Speaker on House row

Mr Marende is not new to controversy, which often leaves him bearing the blame from PNU affiliates of favouring ODM that sponsored him to Parliament before he was elected Speaker. Photo/FILE

By ABIUD OCHIENG’  and VALENTINE OBARA newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com       
Posted  Monday, May 2 2011 at 22:00

ODM Members of Parliament have defended Speaker Kenneth Marende against allegations that he is shielding Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba from being removed as chairman of the parliamentary Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

Speaking after attending a church service in Kisumu, Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ said the Speaker was only asking the committee members to follow the standing orders in replacing the chairman.

“A chairman can only be removed by a resolution of the committee, which is made at the committee meeting and not in public places.

“If such resolutions are placed before the House, the Speaker will have no power to refuse,” Mr Kajwang’ said.

Five committee members at the weekend accused the Speaker and his deputy Farah Maalim of frustrating attempts to kick out Mr Namwamba.

The MPs led by vice-chairman Njoroge Baiya, Isaac Ruto, Mutava Musyimi, Eugene Wamalwa and George Nyamweya told the Speaker to resolve the matter quickly.

Speaking at a different function, Nyando MP Fred Outta said the Speaker was Kenyans’ only hope to ensure that the Constitution is fully implemented and called on MPs to stop politicising his role.

The wrangles in the committee are threatening to delay the implementation of the Constitution since it is charged with the responsibility of scrutinising all Bills before they are tabled for debate in Parliament. (READ: House team wrangles persist)

Some members of the committee have been planning to oust Mr Namwamba over claims of mismanagement and disrespect.

However, Mr Marende is not new to controversy, which often leaves him bearing the blame from PNU affiliates of favouring ODM that sponsored him to Parliament before he was elected Speaker.

Earlier this year, he was at the centre of a storm after he declared that nominations of the Chief Justice, Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Controller of Budget made by President Kibaki, were unconstitutional.

Mr Marende made the decision after the Committees on Justice and Legal Affairs and the one on Finance, Trade and Planning failed to come up with a conclusive decision.