Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege faced a setback on Monday as she lost her position as the Deputy Minority Whip in the National Assembly. Her legal challenge, filed in a Kiambu Court to contest Azimio la Umoja's decision to remove her from the role, was dismissed on Monday.
As a result, Embakasi West MP Mark Muriithi Mwenje is poised to assume the position of Deputy Minority Whip in the 13th Parliament.
A statement issued by the Jubilee Party read in part, "We now demand that the Speaker, Moses Wetangula, ratifies the decision to allow Hon. Mark Mwenje to serve."
Jubilee Party has been entangled in a prolonged legal dispute over leadership, with the faction led by Sabina Chege contending with the Uhuru Kenyatta-led wing for control of the party and access to its substantial financial resources.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed his commitment to the party, retaining his allies in key positions despite the fallout with Sabina Chege and the Kanini Kega group, who have since aligned themselves with Kenya Kwanza.
Azimio la Umoja had previously attempted to replace Sabina Chege on May 4, but Speaker Wetangula halted the move, ruling that the coalition had not provided a suitable replacement to the House.
Wetangula's ruling at the time stated, "The communication received from the Minority Party on the decision to oust Sabina Chege is incomplete and therefore does not comply with the requirements of Standing Order 20(A) of the National Assembly."
Subsequently, Azimio nominated the Embakasi West MP, but Sabina Chege, represented by her lawyer Dennis Kivuti, took the matter to court to challenge her removal.
The court ruled in June, "Pending hearing and determination of the case, the Honorable Court be pleased to issue such further or other order(s) as it may deem just and expedient for the end of justice."
Following this ruling, Speaker Wetangula announced that Sabina Chege would continue to carry out her duties until the courts made a final decision on the matter.
"Honorable members, from the foregoing, my hands are tied with regard to the court order that has been brought to my attention," he stated at the time.