The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) on Wednesday addressed plans to change its leadership in the Nairobi County Assembly.
This is after the county's acting Speaker Chege Mwaura declined a directive by ODM chairman John Mbadi to replace Minority Leader Elias Otieno and Chief Whip Peter Imwatok.
"There is no confusion in the party over the Minority Leadership in the Nairobi County Assembly," a statement sent out by the Party on Wednesday read.
"The matter is being handled by the top organs of the Party and within 48 hrs, a communication will be made to that effect. For now, the status quo remains," the ODM tweet concluded.
According to the directive issued by Mbadi on Thursday, Otieno was set to be replaced by Highrise MCA Kennedy Oyugi and Imwatok's position was to be taken by Lower Savanna MCA Nicholas Okumu.
Declining the directive, however, Speaker Mwaura faulted the ODM chairman for failing to follow the due process.
According to Mwaura, the Standing Orders specify that changes in House party leadership can only be communicated in writing to the Speaker by the Whip.
Besides, the County Assembly Speaker noted that Mbadi's letter was not accompanied by minutes of the party’s resolution on the matter.
Speaker Mwaura further added that the House only recognized NASA as the political entity with minority members in the assembly and not ODM.
Citing a precedent set in the Senate by Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, the County Speaker concluded that any leadership changes should be made by NASA and not ODM.
