National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula, on Thursday, June 8, suspended seven Members of Parliament for violating the Standing Orders.
His decision was necessitated after the lawmakers disrupted the afternoon session. Wetangula found the seven MPs guilty of gross misconduct after they hurled insults, defied his orders and forced the House to proceed on a 15-minute break.
Among those who were suspended were Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo and Nominated MP Sabina Chege, who was suspended from House sittings for two weeks.
Millie Odhiambo (2 weeks), Sabina Chege (2 weeks) Rozaah Buyu (2 weeks), TJ Kajwang (2 weeks), Fatuma Mnyanzi (5 Days), Catherine Omanyo (5 days), Joyce Kamene (2 sittings).
The seven were among Azimio la Umoja MPs who protested Wetang'ula's ruling on the position of Deputy Minority Whip.
According to the Speaker, Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege was legally considered the Minority Whip until when the cases she filed were heard and determined.
The ruling angered a section of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, prompting the MPs to erupt in uncontrollable shouts and chants.
The shouting was audibly led by Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo who quickly marshaled a small team of Members of Parliament, with the intention of disrupting the House Business.
As a result, Speaker Wetangula sent out Rosa Buyu and Millie Odhiambo, but the two, with the support of their colleagues, stood their ground and refused to flinch.
Speaker Wetang'ula was forced to adjourn the House in a huff and returned fifteen minutes later.
The fallout between Chege and her Azimio counterparts stemmed from her decision to back President William Ruto's regime despite holding a nominated MP position in the National Assembly through Jubilee Party.
On May 30, Azimio formally ejected Chege from her Chief Whip position citing her shift in political loyalty. She was replaced by Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje.
Wetangula, however, declined to ratify the changes in honour of an earlier court order the nominated lawmaker obtained barring her ejection.
Justice Mugure Thande set the case for mention on June 22, 2023.
