MP Wandayi wants suspension from House quashed

MP Wandayi wants suspension from House quashed

Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi has moved to court to challenge his suspension from Parliament for the remainder of the fourth session.

Wandayi wants the court to intervene and quash National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi’s order issued on the 1st of April 2016, so as to continue representing his constituency.

The MP argued that the decision by Muturi that barred him from accessing Parliament is unconstitutional adding that he was not given an opportunity to defend himself.

He further says attempts to explore internal avenues to get justice have been frustrated.

Wandayi was suspended for 10 months by Muturi after he led the interruption of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s State of the Nation address in Parliament two months ago.

In his defence, Wandayi said he could not sit and listen to President Kenyatta’s supposed Public Relations gimmick adding that Kenyans were tired of empty rhetoric.

“The country is annoyed. I cannot allow myself to listen to such a speech. Kenyans are tired of PR, they want action,” said Wandayi who was speaking after he was ejected from Parliament.

“We are living under a new Constitutional dispensation. Parliament is a House for debate and that is why we sought to interrogate the State of the Nation address.”

He noted that the Standing Orders cannot supersede the Constitution which he said gives members a right to peacefully picket, demonstrate and express their opinions under Article 37.

Seven legislators drawn from the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) were kicked out of Parliament after they disrupted President Uhuru Kenyatta’s State of the Nation Address in Parliament.

In what seemed to be a well choreographed occurrence, the President had barely started to address the nation when his speech was interrupted by the whistling Parliamentarians.

The MPs kicked out included Tom Joseph Kajwang (Ruaraka), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), John Mbadi (Suba), Fred Outa (Nyando), Simba Arati (Dagoretti North) and Millie Odhiambo (Mbita).

Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro threw out Homabay Senator Moses Kajwang, supporting Muturi’s efforts to restore the House to order.

Tags:

kenya parliament President Uhuru Kenyatta court State of the nation address Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandanyi

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