Wetang'ula Faces Pressure to Remove Sabina Chege

02, Jun 2023 / 2 min read/ By Livenow Africa

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula is facing pressure to remove Sabina Chege as Deputy Minority Leader after she was ousted by the Azimio coalition Parliamentary Group (PG).

The PG on Tuesday resolved to kick Chege out of the minority leadership of the National Assembly and replaced her with Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje.

Wetang'ula had last month put on hold Azimio's push to de-whip the nominated MP for 30 days until the coalition provided her replacement.

With the period expiring, the opposition coalition is keen to have the speaker effect the changes as Azimio moves to crack the whip on dissidents.

"We have written to the speaker seeking the removal of Sabina Chege as Deputy Minority Leader," said Azimio PG chairman John Mbadi.

"We have fulfilled all the conditions set by the speaker and we expect him to effect the changes without any further delay."

Chege is embroiled in a leadership battle for the soul of the Jubilee party with Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.

She is in a faction that is supporting President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza government and which had claimed to have ousted Uhuru as the Jubilee party leader.

Wetang'ula is caught in a difficult position as he is a member of the Jubilee party and is therefore bound by its decisions. However, he is also the speaker of the National Assembly and is therefore expected to be impartial.

It remains to be seen whether Wetang'ula will bow to pressure from Azimio and remove Chege as Deputy Minority Leader.

If he does, it will be a major blow to Chege and her supporters. It will also be a sign that Wetang'ula is willing to toe the line and support the Azimio government.

However, if Wetang'ula refuses to remove Chege, it will be a major victory for her and her supporters. It will also be a sign that Wetang'ula is willing to stand up to the Azimio government and defend the independence of the National Assembly.

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