A number of local dailies on Friday, January 17, reported that there was an alleged plot within the ruling Jubilee Party to reshuffle its leadership in both the National Assembly and Senate.
It was reported that the plan majorly targeted the Senate, with a plan to replace the majority and deputy majority leaders alongside the majority whip for Senators who would fully support President Uhuru Kenyatta's agenda and the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Baringo Senator Gideon Moi's name was touted as fit to replace Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Murkomen stated that he was unaware of such a plot but informed that constitutionally, there is no way Moi could replace him.
This is because KANU, of which the Baringo senator is the party leader, is not part of Jubilee.
"In the 2017 General Election, KANU was not part of Jubilee and did not form a registered coalition that was deposited at the Registrar of Political Parties," Murkomen stated.
Moi would also not be able to replace Murkomen on account that the Senate Standing Orders No. 19 required only a member from the majority party be elected to the post.
"The largest party or coalition of parties in the Senate shall be the majority party and shall elect a senator belonging to the party or coalition of parties to be the Senate majority leader," the act reads.
On Thursday, January 16, Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu, in a post on Facebook, stated that their faction of the party was seeking to make changes to the party's leadership.
He alleged that it was the mandate of the Jubilee Party members to fully support the president's agenda.
"In 2020, we will change Jubilee parliamentary leadership and align it to the president's agenda," Wambugu posted on Friday, January 16.
"The leadership of the house - the majority leaders, whips in both National Assembly and Senate were nominated by the Jubilee Party to champion the president’s agenda in the house," he added.
The first time legislator sounded a warning to Jubilee leaders who were against President Uhuru, advising them to quit the party.
"Any Jubilee MP who currently occupies a leadership position in either Senate or the National Assembly is therefore on notice," Wambugu stated.
"If you are not aligned with the president's agenda, if you don’t agree with the fight against corruption or support the BBI, pack and leave that office before February," he added.
