Waiguru motion meets all requirements, speaker

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi on Tuesday said that the motion for the removal of Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru had satisfied all the requirements. He added that the motion had been approved and would be allocated time for debate at a meeting of the House Business Committee later.

The motion is expected to state the grounds for removal, the name of the sponsor and to bear the signatures of at least 88 MPs supporting it.

Given that House rules state that such a motion should take precedence over all other business on the Order Paper for the day, it could be allocated time as soon as the HBC agrees on when it can be discussed.

“The intention to move the motion and the processes preceding the hearing of the motion itself must not be allowed to hang like a Sword of Damocles on the head of any State Officer nor be allowed to drag on indefinitely. The Damocles’ Sword must be allowed to fall or be removed,” said Mr Muturi.

At the same time, the motion’s sponsor, Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi, indicated he would be giving his colleagues the formal notice of the motion in the House in the afternoon on Wednesday.

He also invited those who have supported him to a breakfast meeting at the Panafric Hotel in Nairobi because “there are one or two things that we need to discuss and agree on.”

“By the time I’m giving notice tomorrow afternoon, I must be sure my army is all with me,” he added.

However, there are signs that political contests over the motion would continue as Majority Leader Aden Duale said that he would be meeting other MPs over the matter.

In parliament last evening, Mr Duale jokingly asked Mr Linturi to disclose who would be paying for the breakfast to which Mr Linturi replied, “I have paid for the breakfast at Panafric at 7.30 in the morning because we must move together. I have said time and again that this is a motion that belongs to the signatories and not me alone. I am just a conveyor belt." He also said that the Majority Leader, Aden Duale was not invited.

“I’m now a relieved man. The pressure that was on me and has been on me on this matter has been too immense  and I’m happy that the matter is before the owners,” said the Igembe South MP.

The Speaker said that while MPs had to exercise their oversight role, the entire process should be structured and should uphold the integrity of the House.