MPs threaten to sue Uhuru party boss over nominations

PHOTO | FILE Nyeri Town MP Esther Murugi. A section of TNA lawmakers have threatened to sue party officials over the nomination of county representatives.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

The party has replaced four of the 13 nominees whose appointment was nullified by the Court of Appeal.
They accused party headquarters of replacing names agreed on by local leaders with “outsiders” living in Nairobi.

By Nation Correspondent
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NYERI

TNA lawmakers have threatened to sue party officials over the nomination of county representatives.

The party has replaced four of the 13 nominees whose appointment was nullified by the Court of Appeal.

TNA chairman Johnston Sakaja, acting executive officer Joseph Maathai and party secretary general Onyango Oloo replaced the four with new names this week.

But area MPs have vowed to oppose the appointments and urged TNA to withdraw the list to allow for consultations. Speaking separately, MPs James Mathenge (Kieni), Ms Esther Murugi (Nyeri Town), Ms Mary Wambui (Othaya) condemned the decision to replace the nominees.

COURT BATTLE

They accused party headquarters of replacing names agreed on by local leaders with “outsiders” living in Nairobi.

“We have information that officials of TNA together with other forces influenced the change of names,” said Ms Murugi.

They said if the officials did not reverse the gazette notice, then MPs will move to court next week to challenge the list.

The MPs have also threatened to push for the sacking of TNA officials for interfering with the list of nominees.

They cited the case of a disabled county representative who was replaced with the relative of a senior politician. Ms Wambui said the attempt to reward cronies with political positions was not in line with the party manifesto that sought to empower the youth.

The replacement of the county representatives follows the nullification of the previous nominees by the Court of Appeal on November 8.

APPEAL COURT

Four residents had gone to court to challenge the nomination on the grounds that it did not reflect regional balance and that some constituencies like Mathira and Mukurweini were not represented.

The four had first lodged a complaint with the party tribunal before moving to the High Court where their petition was dismissed. The Appeal Court finally nullified the names.