On Tuesday, Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo was kicked off the influential Justice and Legal Affairs Committee in what appeared to be a muscle flex aimed at Orengo.
Otiende, regarded as one of the most eloquent debaters, had earlier chided Mbadi, telling him to keep quiet because he lacked legal training.
“John Mbadi, you have not entered a law school, so please allow me to explain,” Otiende said in Parliament, explaining why the proposed 70 constituencies are unconstitutional.
Otiende was replaced on the committee, which deals primarily with constitutional matters and elections, by Ruaraka MP Tom Kajwang’ – a staunch Raila supporter who presided over the ODM leader’s mock swearing-in in January 2018.
Mbadi, the National Assembly Minority Leader, stated that Otiende was replaced with Kajwang’ for failing to toe the party line in the committee.
“If the party’s position is stated, and he is opposed to that position, and he is the vice-chair of JLAC courtesy of ODM, what is the issue?” he asked.
“We are telling him that he is most likely not the best fit for us. “We put him there because we want him to push the party agenda,” said the Suba South MP.
Mbadi stated that the party’s position has been well articulated, but the legislator has not taken it up.
“If he isn’t pushing the JLAC party agenda, why should we keep him? The changes are not malicious in any way. “No one is being punished,” he stated.
“Does unity mean you go against what the party wants? We are just saying that Otiende is not the best for us in JLAC. We will take him elsewhere,” he added.
