Justice assistant minister William Cheptumo March 27, 2013 has joined the list of MPs holding Cabinet positions who have resigned ahead of Thursday's swearing in of new officials. FILE
By LUCAS BARASA lbarasa@ke.nationmedia.com and JULIUS SIGEI jsigei@ke.natiomedia.com
Posted Wednesday, March 27 2013 at 15:47
Posted Wednesday, March 27 2013 at 15:47
Justice assistant minister William Cheptumo has joined the list of MPs holding Cabinet positions who have resigned ahead of Thursday's swearing in of new officials.
Mr Cheptumo, who spoke to the Nation from Naivasha where MPs are strategising for the various House jobs, said his colleagues who were still hanging on were “bastardising the Constitution they swore to protect".
“Section 152 (3) of the Constitution bars any Member of Parliament from serving as a cabinet minister and Cord should not make a mountain out of a mole hill,” the Baringo North MP-elect said.
Last week, President Kibaki ordered all ministers who had been elected as governors, senators or National Assembly members to resign.
But Prime Minister Raila Odinga has insisted the order was unconstitutional and told ministers to remain in office.
On Tuesday, ODM secretary general Anyang Nyong’o moved to court seeking to quash President Kibaki’s order saying there would be a vacuum in government if ministers resigned before the new president is sworn in.
Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno and Education minister Mutula Kilonzo have already resigned.
Other ministers who have resigned are Esther Murugi (Special Programmes), Naomi Shaban (Gender), Kabando wa Kabando (Youth and Sports assistant minister).
Defence Minister Yusuf Haji has also resigned.
The first sitting of the National Assembly and Senate will be held Thursday when speakers for both Houses will be elected and all members sworn in.
The National Assembly will sit at Parliament Buildings while the Senate will sit at KICC.
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