Homa Bay MP Gladys Wanga has poured cold water on a proposal by Siaya senator James Orengo to impeach Deputy President William Ruto over alleged gross misconduct. Wanga said ODM was not plotting to impeach the DP as was indicated by Orengo and other party members.
Appearing on Citizen TV on Tuesday, March 26, morning, the MP who sits in the Orange party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) said they had at no point in time deliberated on the alleged plot to oust Ruto. “I sit in ODM’s NEC and we have not had any discussions as a party to impeach the DP. Senator Orengo can proceed to act in the way that he wants as an individual,” she said in reaction to statements made earlier by Orengo and the party’s Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
As was reported earlier Sifuna, Orengo, Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya and other Opposition leaders announced they would marshal support to remove Ruto from office. Speaking in Ugenya where they had gone to campaign for Chris Karan, the ODM candidate for the area’s vacant parliamentary seat, the politicians alleged the DP had violated the law and therefore should be ousted. “We will push for his removal on grounds of gross misconduct.
The cutoff requirement to oust a DP according to the Constitution is lower than a criminal trial prosecution,” Orengo said. Echoing the senator’s sentiments, Governor Oparanya argued the move was aimed at helping President Uhuru Kenyatta and their party leader Raila Odinga to sustain the war against graft. Sifuna on his part revealed they were already working on the impeachment motion to commence the ouster in the shortest time possible.
A Deputy president can be removed from office through provisions highlighted under Article 150 (1) (a) and (b) (i) (ii) and (iii) of the Constitution of Kenya.