Rifts in Jubilee over Duale censure motion

Cracks have emerged in the Jubilee Coalition over a plan to table a censure motion against National Assembly majority leader Aden Duale in Parliament.

Eight legislators, led by Kieni MP Kanini Kega, have launched a plot to remove Duale claiming he has failed to release the list of Al Shabaab militiamen and their financiers as promised.

The legislators claim that Duale has failed in his promise to expose those involved in terror activities, noting that they have decided to push for his removal since Nyeri is among the counties affected by terrorism.

Some JAP officials from Nyeri have, however, defended the embattled Garissa Township MP saying he is not obliged to gather intelligence on criminal activities.

Speaking in Nyeri Town, interim patron William Wahome termed the ultimatum issued by a section of Jubilee MPs as unwarranted and unprovoked attacks on Duale.

Wahome said that the eight legislators from Nyeri have come up with a calculated scheme to undermine President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration by removing Duale from his position as majority leader.

Last Tuesday, the removal process of Duale kicked off with eight MPs from the country pushing to oust him from his position.

The MPs behind the move are Mutahi Kagwe (Senator), Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini), Kanini Kega (Kieni), Priscilla Nyokabi (County MP), Esther Murugi (Nyeri Town), Mary Wambui (Othaya), Ndung’u Gethenji (Tetu) and Peter Weru (Mathira).

Led by Kanini, the leaders gave Duale a seven-day ultimatum for him to release a list of the alleged Al-Shabaab sympathisers and financiers in North Eastern Kenya or in default face a censure motion on the floor of the House.

The National Alliance (TNA) party Chief Executive Officer Joseph Mathai has announced that the party leadership will soon meet with the eight leaders from President Kenyatta’s backyard and iron out the issue.

The tug of war between Duale and the legislators was fuelled by the recent attacks in a quarry in Mandera County where 11 people from Nyeri County were killed.