Senate Majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen has hinted at leading a fight against attempts by the ODM fraternity to remove Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) for associating with DP Ruto.
Taking his plan on Twitter, the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator vowed to use constitutional means to protect the lawmaker (Ms Jumwa) and defend her rights, after Minority Whip Junet Mohamed (Suna East) officially wrote to the speaker to oust the MP.
“The fact that we are even discussing about any punishment to be meted on Hon. Aisha Jumwa for having a handshake with DP William Ruto is just simply a travesty. For the record Commissioner Jumwa is going nowhere. She is protected by the Constitution. We shall defend her rights,” the Senator said in a tweet.
On Thursday, the crackdown on ODM rebel MPs begun in earnest after the party wrote to National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi seeking the removal of vocal Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa from the powerful Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
Minority Whip Junet Mohamed (Suna East) expressed ODM’s intention to axe the MP, a former confidant of party leader Raila Odinga at the coast, from the lucrative commission.
“I seek guidance on how to remove and hence replace a commissioner of the PSC…your urgent consideration of this matter will be highly appreciated,” the letter signed by Mr Mohamed reads.
Rebellious lawmakers
The party is keen to stem any rebellion in its Coast, Western and Nyanza strongholds following a political truce between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr Odinga.
Meanwhile, Ms Jumwa dismissed the plans by Mr Mohamed after media reports emerged, adding that she had not received official communication from Speaker Justin Muturi.
Jumwa told a press conference in her constituency that she had no problems with ODM leader Raila Odinga.
She further said: “Junet, I am ready for you. Mr Man, you can proceed ... I am ready for you. I have no conflict with the party leader.”
She reiterated that she will support Deputy President William Ruto’s presidential bid in 2022 as this is her constitutional right.
“I will support Ruto. It’s my right ... nobody can gag me," she said.