Fallout looms in Azimio after ODM lock out Jubilee in PSC positions
A major fallout that could mark the beginning of an acrimonious political divorce between the opposition leader Raila Odinga’s ODM party and that of his political nemesis turned unlikely bed-fellow Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party is shaping up after ODM locked out their partners from all the three slots in the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
The Senate full House has this evening approved the nomination of the seven party sponsored members dealing a bitter blow to Uhuru Kenyatta’s party.
Senate Minority Whip Fatuma Dullo’s name of Jubilee was removed from the list and replaced by Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omugeni of ODM.
Now, Jubilee is accusing ODM of short-changing them for the three membership positions to join the all-powerful PSC.
Earlier, Jubilee Party legislators threatened to leave coalition if one of their own will not be allowed to sit in the PSC.
Addressing the media earlier today, the Jubilee allied MPs demanded one of the three positions set aside for the minority in the commission after Senate Minority Whip Fatuma Dullo’s name was removed from the list and replaced by Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omugeni of ODM.
“We were not coerced to join ODM in Azimio, we joined willingly and if they mistreat Jubilee members we will leave willingly because we have experienced firsthand the conmanship, politics of deceit, and political banditry by our brothers in Azimio” charged Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere.
Korere flanked by 10 of her colleagues said most of their members were disgruntled by how they have been treated in the coalition, even during the formation of committees in parliament.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan said they will be holding a parliamentary group meeting to chart a way forward.
“After ODM we are the second largest party in the coalition, so it is not something that we are begging, it’s our right, so we are asking the Azimio leadership to fast track these, call for a meeting and allow Jubilee to nominate a candidate to the PSC because we are not going to be flower girls to anybody,” he said.
The Azimio coalition has struggled to fill the few positions available to them with Jubilee first proposing Sirisa MP John Waluke to the commission.
However, his name was removed from the final list presented to parliament.
“Waluke was a first-choice to join PSC, nobody wants to take responsibility that he was short-changed. Up to now, we are asking what happened, that is the question we are asking, no one should take advantage and short-change Jubilee” Keynan said.
Dullo was on Wednesday kicked out of the nominees to the PSC by the minority in the Senate, a decision that was endorsed by the Senate, with some members accusing her of being gullible and nominating herself to the commission without the knowledge of the leadership.
