THE Wiper Democratic Party has denied that any MP is being victimised for refusing to stand down for party leader Kalonzo Musyoka. One MP wrote this week to Speaker Justine Muturi complaining that the party leadership was forcing him to surrender his seat in a powerful parliamentary committee because he did not resign.
In April, some Wiper leaders proposed that an Ukambani MP should resign to allow party leader Kalonzo to re-enter Parliament through a by-election so that he could lead the opposition. The plan hit a snag after the targeted MPs refused to relinquish their positions.
Kalonzo was the deputy presidential candidate for the unsuccessful Cord alliance. The MP alleged that Wiper was misusing the Standing Orders to punish MPs.
Other MPs who spoke anonymously to the Star said the chance to serve in any powerful parliamentary committee was being used as a disciplinary tool.
However Minority Leader Francis Nyenze, who heads Wiper Party in the National Assembly, denied that any MP was being victimized. He said that the party is in the process of “rationalizing” its representation in parliamentary committees but added that it has nothing to do with the former Vice President. He said the party recently decided that no MP should simultaneously serve in two departmental committees.
“There are some MPs who were in several committees. We agreed that one can only belong to one departmental committee and one select committee, but one cannot serve in two or more departmental committees at the same time. That is why we moved some MPs.
To bring in the name of honourable Kalonzo is to smear the party,” said Nyenze. He added that the party was considering disciplinary measures against one MP.
“I have already received a letter in my office from one MP complaining that he has been scandalized by another MP. The party may take disciplinary measures against that law maker said to be scandalizing others,” said Nyenze.
He said one should not see Kalonzo’s hand if an MP is punished for failing to toe the party line. Kalonzo later declared that he was not interested in returning to Parliament. He said he had not even been consulted by Wiper MPs who wanted him to return to Parliament.-the-star.co.ke
