Azimio leaders threaten to impeach Speaker Justin Muturi

Two National Assembly members and a Senator allied to the Azimio One Kenya coalition want Speaker Justin Muturi to resign after joining hands with Deputy President William Ruto.

Kieni lawmaker Kanini Kega, Murang'a Woman Representative Sabina Chege and Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina, speaking in Nyeri on Tuesday, said Muturi can no longer be impartial.

“Hajakuwa spika wa Jubilee, amekuwa spika wa jumba la kitaifa. Lakini wakati amechukua mrengo mmoja, hiyo ni kuonyesha kwamba ata yale maamuzi atakuwa anafanya kule bungeni itakuwa inaegemea upande mmoja. Kwa hivyo haa budi ata yeye mwenyewe kujiondoa katika mamlaka hayo kwa sababu the Speaker must be impartial,” said Kega.

Senator ole Kina, on his part, stated: “What Speaker Muturi has done is that he has literally rendered his resignation, because there is no way he is going to be impartial, he is definitely going to be partisan.”

The leaders said Muturi should pave the way for what they described as a non-partisan speaker.

“If he has any conscience he should just step aside to allow for a person who is non-partisan, a person who is not aligned to one side, it is hypocritical for the speaker to continue presiding over the National Assembly,” added Kega.

Sabina Chege said: “The most honourable thing he would do is to resign, if he feels he still wants to continue having the salary and doing double speak, we leave him to God. I don't think there is need for unnecessary drama in Parliament, where we know we have very few days to finish this term.”

However, on the other side, Speaker Muturi doesn't seem moved. On Saturday he said he will not be cowed into submission, while MPs allied to DP Ruto in Parliament are gearing up to come to his defence even as leaders allied to the president accuse him of betrayal.

“We know where the Speaker came…he failed on a Parliamentary seat, the president then made him the third most powerful man in Kenya, and he has seen the best gift he can give to Uhuru is go to the other side, so we will leave God to judge him,” said Sabina.

Nominated MP David ole Sankok said: “Tumesikia wakisema wanataka kukuimpeach, usikubali kutishwa…Speaker there is nobody who can dare you, you have led us with a lot of diligence, you are a mobile encyclopaedia when it comes to the Constitution and all members here support you. So let them try.”

A Speaker can be impeached for violating the Constitution, for gross misconduct or if he or she is incapacitated.