ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba (pictured) and three other opposition MPs yesterday defied a directive by Cord principals to keep off sessions of a key joint parliamentary committee.
Namwamba and MPs Olago Aluoch (Kisumu West, Ford Kenya), Manson Nyamweya (South Mugirango, ODM) and Deputy Minority Whip Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini, Ford Kenya) were present during a crucial session of the joint Justice and Legal Affairs and CIOC committee meeting.
The joint House committee was ordered by the National Assembly to process two bills meant to provide a legal framework for the appointment of the next commissioners for the electoral agency.
They all made their contributions and backed the committee’s mandate to tour the country to collect public views on the proposed constitutional amendment bills.
“It is clear we support the dialogue within the context of Parliament,” Namwamba said.
Cord on Tuesday asked its members to withdraw from the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee until further directions are given by the coalition’s leaders.
“Cord is going to withdraw the authority of its members in the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee and directs them to stop any further engagements in that committee,” Siaya Senator James Orengo said during a media briefing after a Parliamentary Group meeting.
The far-reaching decision was seen as a move to put pressure on the government to accede to demands by Cord for dialogue over the IEBC.
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