Deputy President William Ruto at a past event. He has been accused of being behind the de-whipping of five Jubilee MPs. [Photo/howtodiys.com]
Moiben MP Silas Tiren has vowed not to resign as the National Assembly Agriculture Committee Chairman.
Tiren, who hails from Nandi County-Deputy President William Ruto's backyard, said even though Jubilee Party leadership has asked him to step down, he will stay put as he was legally elected.
Speaking to the Nation, the legislator said he is well informed about agriculture and is best placed to deliver on his mandate as the chairman of the Committee in charge of Agriculture.
"I respect His Excellency William Samoei Ruto the Deputy President and our Deputy Party Leader and I shall accord him all the support, but also I was elected by the people of Moiben to represent them in Parliament and I wonder what I will tell them if I step down from this position which actually touches on their lives directly because they are farmers," Tiren said.
His remarks come after President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday ordered members of five House committees to remove their chairmen in favour of Jubilee preferences.
The five 'rebel' MPs have been at loggerheads with JP chiefs in Parliament for voting against the party's will and working their way to leadership of committees.
Since then, Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali has de-whipped them with Majority Leader Aden Duale saying they are not welcome for induction since they are in office 'illegally'.
But defiant Tiren, however, said was ready to fight his detractors and vowed to attend the induction in Mombasa.
"As it is, I am planning to attend a retreat next week in Mombasa as the chair of the committee as stipulated in the Standing Orders and having been clarified by the Clerk of the Assembly," he said on Friday.