By Obegi Malack
@obegimalack
Jubilee Party has reshuffled leadership in Kajiado County assembly in a letter directed to speaker Johnson Osoi.
Secretary General Raphael Tuju indicated that the party held consultation within the party and county leadership to change leadership and factor in gender requirements.
MCA Martin Kimemia who was among those who lost their positions in the reshuffle claim governor Joseph Ole Lenku is behind the changes and is targeting them since they did not support removal of speaker Osoi from office.
The Oloolua Ward representative was replaced as Majority Whip by colleague MCA James Waichanguru(Nkaimurunya) while MCA Justus Ngossor (Ewuaso) was replaced by nominated MCA Grace Koitumet as deputy Majority whip.
Waichanguru was the Deputy Majority Leader his position will now be taken by Olkeri Ward MCA Peter Gitau.
Imbirrikani MCA, Julius Teto Moipaai who was leading motion to remove speaker from office remains the Majority Leader.
Kimemia now claims the executive wants to control the house. “The assembly should be left to do its work, the executive is using dictatorial means, we will not accept that, we are closely monitoring and electorates will decide,” he said.
Kimemia who was speaking with county press maintained that he will continue to provide oversight in the assembly. He said the executive arm twisted Tuju in removing them from their positions.
Tuju in his letter indicated that they resolved Kimemia to remain Secretarial Committee Chair for Trade Investment and cooperative and all committees remain as they are.
Kimemia claimed the executive is also planning to dictate who should chair committees.
Last month Minority Leader Olosirkon Sholinke MCA Francis Kaesha was replaced with Daniel Naikuni . County Assembly Women Caucus vice chair Grace Parantai position was also taken by Grace Koitumet, Kaesha later got a court order from court tribunal that reinstated him but the order is yet to be effected.
Rongai MCA Mwathi Pere said the executive has been interfering with assembly matters. The MCA said MCAs role is oversight, legislate and to represent his constituents and not rubber-stamping what the executive demands.
“I support the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and handshake, we should unite this county and stop petty issues that are dividing the country,” he said. He noted the MCAs who wanted the speaker out did not reach the threshold of 75%.
The executive has denied any involvement in assembly issues. The new changes are seen as weakening speaker’s control of the assembly.