Nyamira Senator Mong’are Okong’o has expressed his optimism of recapturing the chairperson seat in the lucrative Senate Public Accounts Committee, a few weeks after he was de-whipped from the position by his Cord coalition.
The eleven member committee is set to elect a chairperson and the deputy for the second time in a span of one month after Mong’are's election as chair was disputed by the opposition over his alleged good working relationship with the Jubilee government.
But on Tuesday, Okong’o vowed to contest for the position and accused the opposition of undermining the will of the majority.
“I am standing for the chairperson seat and there is no doubt about that, said Okong'o.
"I will not allow members to mutilate democratic principles by rejecting the outcome of the majority. I was elected in our first meeting and I am sure of another clear victory,” he said.
“I would like to urge my Cord leadership to respect the will of the majority," he added.
"The coalition is founded on strong principles of democracy and it will be an irony if they keep on disputing the democratic decision made my Senators,” he said.
He defended his alleged cordial relationship with the government and vowed to support principles that uplift the living standards of common people.
“I am in the opposition and there is no doubt about that. However, it doesn’t mean that we support each and every suggestion that our leadership believes in," said Okong'o.
"We have democracy within the opposition and whenever I feel not satisfied, I have a right to dissent,” he added.
He challenged Cord leadership to throw their weight behind him in the Wednesday’s election and promised to work fairly.
“I am an independent minded man and I am sure members will elect me. Let’s not bring baseless party politics in a watchdog committee," said Mong'are.
"Otherwise, I challenge Cord to desist from undermining my ability and unite behind my leadership,” he added.