Gatundu South MP’S push to oust Aden Duale as National Assembly Majority leader has elicited sharp reactions among Jubilee members.
Jubilee MPs came out openly yesterday to dismiss Kuria’s bid to have Duale stripped of his powerful position.
The lawmakers maintained that Kuria is just out to trigger an implosion in Jubilee.
“Kuria appears to be having a personal issue with Duale. The Jubilee party has no issue at all with its leadership in the National Assembly,” Embakasi North MP James Gakuya said.
Gakuya added the Gatundu South MP should find a way to address his issues within the party structures instead of making “outrageous statements,” that could only disunite party members.
“At a time when we are enjoying calm, courtesy of the handshake, we don’t want to raise political temperatures again. Kuria knows what to do when he has a problem with any Jubilee member,” Gakuya said.
While he was being interviewed by Citizen TV on JKL Wednesday night, Kuria told Jeff Koinange, the host that Jubilee MPs were unhappy with Duale’s leadership style.
Kuria said the lawmakers dissatisfaction with Duale’s leadership in the National Assembly want to kick him out as Leader of the Majority.
“That is not just my position but a position shared by many members of Jubilee,” Kuria said when asked abut removing Duale.
He continued, “We are very frustrated, everyone in Jubilee and Nasa are very frustrated with Aden Duale.”
When he was asked the reason for MPs dissatisfaction, Kuria said the Garissa Township MP takes a big chunk of his contribution on the floor of the House “making jokes.”
Kuria also hinted at his bid to be in the position by stating that after Duale’s removal, the MPs would easily vote him for the position.
“Let him remove me from committees because that is his prerogative and then allow members to have a say on who will be their leader of majority,” Kuria said.
Endebes MP Robert Pukose dared Kuria to table the motion in parliament to see how they will reject it.
“Let him (Kuria) bring a motion to impeach Duale. I can assure you it will not see the light of day. I think he was drunk but I want dare him to bring the motion,” the MP said.
Kimilili MP Didimus Baraza said that the motion to impeach Duale as Leader of Majority must meet the highest threshold set depending on facts and evidence.
“Parliament cannot act as a lynch mob for personal interests. The House makes its decision based on merit and not innuendoes and rumours,” Barasa said.
The war of words between Kuria and Duale began when Kuria utterly condemned the president for sidelining Mt Kenya region in terms of development.
The Majority leader accused Kuria and even threatened to de-whip him from both the Transport and Budget Committes as Kuria claimed.
Tuju, however, said that a decision to remove any member from the committee must come as a recommendation from the party’s disciplinary committee. He also admitted that the committee has received complaints from some members.