Raphael Tuju Testifies Against Jubilee MPs in Court

Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju on Thursday contradicted the statement of four Jubilee Members of Parliament (MPs) who filed a case against the Party and the Speaker of the National Assembly for allegedly dismissing them from parliamentary committees leadership.

The party wants the court to lift an order blocking Parliament from removing the four de-whipped MPs from committees.

Tuju and party chief whip Ben Washiali told the court that MPs Kangogo Bowen (Marakwet East), Silas Kipkoech (Moiben), Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills) and James Mwangi (Embakasi North) obtained orders without telling the truth about what had really happened.

[caption caption="Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter"][/caption]

Speaking through their lawyer Danson Mungatana, Tuju and Washiali told Justice Roslyn Abirili that they had mutually agreed on those who would spearhead the committees in the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

They added that none of the aggrieved legislators complained then.

"The party held a meeting on December 13, 2017 in the presence of its top leadership. During the meeting, it was agreed to achieve regional and ethnic balance. We would approach the parliamentary committee elections in a guided way so as to give each region a fair share of leadership positions available for our political party,” Mr Mungatana highlighted.

Mungatana also noted that the four MPs had taken slots meant for Wajir, Mandera, Tana River and Turkana.

The four, however, termed the decision to strip them off the leadership as unfair and illegal.

[caption caption="Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter and Moiben MP Silas Tiren"][/caption]

Their lawyer, Frank Walukwe, stated that the party leaders cannot dictate the composition of the committees.

The lawmaker further termed the decision to deny them the position unfair.

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