Suna East Member of Parliament, Junet Mohammed on Monday, July 11 claimed that the Kenya Kwanza faction had orchestrated a plan to appoint a clerk during the special sitting scheduled for Wednesday, July 13.
While addressing the media, the Minority Whip alleged that Deputy President Willian Ruto's team had hatched a ploy to use their ties with Speaker Justin Muturi to install a clerk hurriedly before the August 9 polls.
He alleged that the Kenya Kwanza team planned to sneak the Clerk's agenda into parliament discussions after debate on the contentious Huduma Bill.
Junet explained that the scheme by the Kenya Kwanza team was part of their strategy to frustrate the government's agenda in the August House should former Prime Minister Raila Odinga win the August 9 polls.
Further, Raila's right-hand man questioned why Muturi had not gazetted a notice on the special sitting as required by the law.
“What is the point of convening the House for a special sitting to install a new Clerk with just days to elections and without a Gazette notice? Can’t it wait?
"They know that going by the current projections, we will have the numerical strength in the 13th Parliament and seek to have a friendly Clerk now while he is still the Speaker,” the legislator claimed.
However, Muturi rubbished the claims by the Azimio team stating that parliamentarians were still on duty despite being in recess for campaigns.
“I have always detested the politicisation of the staff of Parliament and it is unfair for anyone to make such claims.” Muturi stated.
He stated that he convened the meeting in accordance with the House's procedures adding that they had pending business to be transacted.
Muturi added that he was still nonpartisan in executing his duties in parliament despite belonging to Ruto's team. He stated that the claims were baseless and crafted by the Azimio team to taint his image because of his political leaning.
“I am out in the field campaigning for my preferred presidential candidate William Ruto.
“The Constitution is very clear on the life of a House of Parliament. Remember, if there's an emergency it would be the 12th Parliament which would be called to come and make the necessary decisions,” he stated.
Members of Parliament are expected to pick a new clerk following the appointment of the current clerk- Michael Sialai as Kenya's High Commissioner to Namibia.
