Duale, Washiali face the sack as the purge of DP Ruto allies gathers steam

By , K24 Digital
On Tue, 19 May, 2020 10:58 | < 1 min read
Aden Duale
MP Aden Duale. PHOTO | FILE
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale chastises his counterpart in the Senate for claiming that Parliament has become a rubberstamp for Executive decisions.

By Eric Wainaina and Hillary Mageka

Three nominated senators who skipped a Parliamentary Group meeting convened by President Uhuru Kenyatta now face expulsion after it emerged the ruling party has resolved to eject them.

While Jubilee Party's National Management Committee has not yet officially communicated their decision to expel Milicent Omanga, Falhad Iman and Victor Prengei to the National Executive Committee for ratification, it is understood that their fate has already been sealed.

The three senators, who are closely allied to Deputy President (DP) William Ruto, failed to attend the meeting held at State House, Nairobi last week.

During the meeting, Jubilee senators ratified the removal of the vocal Ruto allies, Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika, as Majority Leader and Majority Whip respectively.

But now the guns seem trained on the National Assembly for a further purge of DP Ruto allies.

In the new leadership changes at the National Assembly, the casualties are likely to be Majority Leader Aden Duale and Chief Whip Benjamin Washiali. The changes may also kick out chairs of key committees.

Washiali is likely to be replaced by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe while successors are being sought for Duale and Deputy Whip Cecily Mbarire.

The decision is likely to see critics of DP Ruto at his Rift Valley stronghold rewarded with the powerful positions.

The National Assembly purge is reported to have been agreed on at a high-level meeting of Jubilee House leaders hosted by the party leader on Monday, May 18.

A day earlier, while appearing on K24's Punchline, Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju, warned that members must toe the line or face disciplinary measures, including being recalled or ejected from party leadership in the House.