Sunday, June 24, 2012

ODM mulls confidence vote against AG Githu


ODM mulls confidence vote against AG Githu

  SHARE BOOKMARKPRINTEMAILRATING
By ELISHA OTIENO AND JUSTUS WANGA newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Saturday, June 23  2012 at  21:49
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is considering a number of options they say will scuttle or reverse amendments to the Political Parties Act that has caused public outrage.
Party MPs told public meetings in Nyanza on Saturday they would either move to court or sponsor a vote of no confidence against Attorney-General Githu Muigai.
Among the amendments that have sparked public outcry include one which would allow MPs to party hop without losing their parliamentary seats.
Also in their cross-hairs is the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on the Implementation of the Constitution Mohamed Abdikadir, said Gwasi MP John Mbadi.
“We elected him the chairman to ensure that the Constitution is implemented to the letter, but to our surprise he has bowed to suit political pressures,” said Mr Mbadi.
He said there are many able lawyers in Parliament who can spearhead the implementation oversight committee. The MPs spoke in Migori County where they held a series of rallies under the “ODM reloaded” banner.
Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba also took issue with the conduct of the Attorney-General.
“We may be forced to pass a vote of no confidence in him for having failed to safeguard gains achieved with the passage of the new Constitution,” said Mr Namwamba.
Mr Mbadi said the selfish constitutional amendments by some of the MPs amounted to betrayal of Kenyans who came out in large numbers to pass the new set of laws in the referendum.
Share This Story
Share 
“We should not mutilate the new laws just to impress a few people while ignoring the aspirations of Kenyans,” said the Gwasi MP.
Elsewhere, Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny said Kenyans should be vigilant against mutilation of the Constitution by Parliament.
Prof Olweny spoke in Nyakach constituency during the burial of Mr Boniface Anyango, the father of Nyakach MP Pollins Anyango.
“MPs are aware that their term is soon ending so they are engaging in desperate attempts to redeem their diminishing political fortunes. The anti-reform forces are regrouping in Parliament to reverse the gains we made in the Constitution,” he said.
Prof Olweny said ordinary Kenyans could move to court to block the now controversial amendments.
And the Nyanza caravan that held public rallies at Rongo, Awendo, Uriri, Migori and Kuria also campaigned for Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s presidential bid with Housing assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru calling on people from other regions, especially Central and Rift Valley, to support his bid.
“This is the time when Kenyans require a person of Mr Odinga’s calibre to unite the country and steer it forward in achieving its development goals,” she said.
Citing the PM’s reform credentials, the minister said his presidency would see through the implementation of the Constitution and other reforms.
Those in the caravan that is expected in Kisii today also included Public Works minister Chris Obure and assistant ministers Magerer Langat, Richard Onyonka and Joseph Nanok.
Nominated MP Millie Odhiambo was also present. They cautioned politicians who practiced what they termed “politics of ethnicity”, saying they were the merchants of impunity.
The party embarked on the tour at a time when two MPs whose parties failed to meet the registration of political parties’ requirements shifted their allegiance to the Orange party.
Mr Langat used the ocassion to dispute claims that ODM has lost popularity in Rift Valley.
He said that the fact that some MPs from the region were still in the party was proof enough that the party and its presidential candidate commanded support and would still carry the day if polls are held.
The party toured southern Nyanza at a time when two assistant ministers from other parties – Manson Nyamweya (Ford-People) and Richard Onyonka (PDP) – have decamped to ODM and are in the forefront in drumming up support for the PM’s bid for State House.

No comments:

Post a Comment