Rebel MP reveals why Jubilee lawmakers are scared after Duale's text message
The MPs cannot expressly speak on two critical issues.
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The revelations by Mr Keter, who last week spent a weekend in police cell over alleged Sh633 million treasury bill forgery, come amid rising fears that all Jubilee lawmakers were ordered by Majority leader Aden Duale via text to surrender their electronic voting cards.
“Because of a Jubilee majority, this Parliament is no longer independent. Members are scared of contributing to critical issues like corruption and the government’s insatiable appetite for loans, lest they are branded rebels,” Mr Keter told the .
The revocation of electronic voting cards comes at a time the MPs are set to elect the Parliamentary Service Commission in the National Assembly members on Thursday. The voting cards were set to monitor the voting patterns by the Jubilee MPs.
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It has emerged that several Jubilee MPs did not want the long serving Nominated Senator Beth Mugo and Eldas MP Adan Keynan on the PSC as “the two were personalising the commission with their long tenure, but the Executive in the end had its way.”
Media appearance ban
The new twist comes even as Jubilee lawmakers are already fighting off an earlier directive from State House which required all of them to seek approval from the Presidency, if they were to appear on Television and Radio shows.
The lawmaker were in addition been stopped from responding to media queries, without prior approval from the presidency, in what seems a change, as County Commissioners will now be the ones to speak on behalf of the president in vernacular radio stations.
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"As you might have noticed, we are not talking to the media as per the instructions given to us by his Excellency the President and Deputy President," an MP, who sought anonymity for fear of reprisals, said on Tuesday last week.
"He [Uhuru] was categorical that the caveat must be respected at all cost. We are in dilemma even when we feel we have strong and persuasive views we want to articulate. We are missing a lot on constructive public discourse," the lawmaker added.
Technically, the directive meant that lawmakers who have been flooding TV and radio morning shows to comment on the current affairs will have to expressly do so after writing to the National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale and Senate’s counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen, before making appearance on TV.
Backing Mr Keter to criticize Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee administration is Kapenguria MP Samuel Moroto, who is serving his fourth term.
“We were elected to represent the people’s interests without fear or intimidation,” Mr Moroto said.
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He added: “Although the Jubilee leadership may have an interest in an issue, it should not manipulate MPs or interfere with their work.”
Moi-Ruto rivalry
The DP Ruto and Gideon Moi rivalry in the control of the Rift Valley politics could be in play, owing to the recent postponement of a planned grand home coming rally which was organised by Mr Keter who was bailed out over the Sh633 million Treasury bills.
Mr Keter cancelled the Friday rally at the eleventh hour over concerns it would be exploited to cause further divisions between Ruto and Moi, but failed to give reasons for the decision. However, over 16 Jubilee MPs who had confirmed attendance said he had called to inform them of the postponement.
ALSO READ: Duale schools 4 Jubilee MPs after being sued
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It later emerged that Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny (a close ally of DP Ruto) asked that the rally be put off amid reports that Moi was to attend the meeting at Koitalel Samoei Museum in Nandi Hills.
Kutuny said the MPs’ intention was to have Keter released and not to pursue a different political agenda. Ruto and Gideon are competing for the control of Rift Valley politics ahead of the 2022 General Election. Both have declared interest in vying for the presidency.
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