Political parties will now face an uphill task in removing rebel Members of Parliament from House leadership positions after lawmakers passed amendments to the Standing Orders.
Under the new regulations passed on Thursday, June 2, political parties will be required to get the support of a quarter of their members before removing MPs perceived to be disloyal to the party.
National Assembly Speaker, Justin Muturi, noted that the changes will safeguard the independence of Parliament even as he stated that the changes will take effect when the 13th Parliament sits.
Additionally, before the removal of leaders of the Majority and Minority, parties will be forced to submit minutes and signatures of lawmakers who attended Parliamentary Group meeting where the changes were ratified.
"A member seeking to remove a leader and deputy leader shall file a motion with the party supported by at least one quarter of the members of the party," read the Standing Orders amendments in part.
The amendments came after allies of the Deputy President, William Ruto, lamented over the process which saw Garissa Township Member of Parliament, Aden Duale, de-whipped from the Majority Leader's position.
Duale stated that the Jubilee Party was yet to give a detailed report on the minutes and signatures that were collected to support his ouster.
"The leadership of this House should not be subjected to removal from office in funerals and public rallies after a few people hold night meetings on their own. Up to today, I am yet to see signatures of MPs who supported my ouster," Duale stated.
"This does not just streamline the workings of this House, it also enhances the democracy of the members," Kiharu MP, Ndindi Nyoro, concurred.
Duale was among the leaders who were removed from leadership positions after siding with DP Ruto during President Uhuru Kenyatta's second term.
At the time, the Jubilee Party defended the changes stating that the president needed loyalists to be able to run the government's agenda in the House and secure his legacy.
Also affected was Bungoma Senator, Moses Weatangula, who was removed from the Senate Minority leadership post and replaced by his Siaya counterpart, James Orengo.
