The High Court on Wednesday temporarily reinstated four Jubilee legislators who had been removed from heading different parliamentary committees.
Justice John Mativo issued a stay order against the decision by the Majority leader Aden Duale and Majority Chief Whip Benjamin Washiali to remove the Members of Parliament from the parliamentary committeees they had been elected to head.
The four MPs; Alfed Keter (Nandi Hills), Silas Kipkoech (Moiben), David Bowen (Marakwet East) and James Gakuya (Embakasi North) had moved to court on December 27 challenging the decision to oust them arguing that the action was unreasonable and irrational.
In filed case documents seen by Nation the leaders claimed that they all won leadership in the various committees after being elected in polls held on December 20 but following their win, they got letters from Mr Washiali and Mr Duale which stripped them their positions.
[caption caption="High Court Judge John Mativo"]
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Through lawyer Frank Walukwe, they argued that the Jubilee disciplinary team did not grant them an opportunity to be heard before having them discharged from the committees as required by the new Standing Orders in Parliament.
Speaker of the National Assembly, Justin Muturi had also been listed as a respondent in the case.
The Jubilee afflicted lawmakers had on Tuesday vowed to impeach the Majority leader, Aden Duale on the same ground that they took him to court for.
During the stated polls, Nandi MP Keter was elected chairman of the Labour and Social Welfare committee, defeating Bura MP Ali Wario, who was the choice of the ruling party.
Mr Kipkoech was elected Agriculture committee’s chairman, defeating Adan Ali of Mandera East, Jubilee’s preferred candidate.
[caption caption="Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter"]
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Mr Bowen defeated Jubilee’s choice of Sofia Abdi, Ijara MP, for the Environment and Natural Resources committee whereas Mr Alex Kosgey,Emgwen MP, had attempted to run against Kieni MP Kanini Kega at the Trade, Industry and Cooperatives committee.
