Kiplombe MCA Ramadan Ali who has been denied the the position of leader of minority post despite being the only ODM MCA in Uasin Gishu. [Photo/Joe Khisa]
The Uasin Gishu County Assembly has turned down a request by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to elect its elected member to the position of the leader of minority.
ODM had written to the Assembly electing Kiplombe MCA Ramadan Werambo Ali as the leader of minority.
However, assembly's Deputy Speaker Hosea Lamai informed the house that ODM does not have the number of MCAs required to qualify as the second largest party at the Assembly.
"According to standing order 116 part 5, the position of the leader of minority shall be held by a member from the second largest party whose membership is not less than 5 percent. In this case ODM has only one MCA hence the said member doesn't qualify to be the leader of minority," said Mr. Lamai in his communication to the Assembly, Tuesday.
Lamai however said the ODM MCAs will be allowed to sit in other Committees except being a member of the County Assembly Service Board.But in a quick rejoinder, Ali said he would raise the matter with his party, ODM so that a formal complain is lodged with the Political Parties Tribunal.
"This is a party matter and cannot be decided by a few individuals who are members of another party," said the MCA at the Assembly buildings in Eldoret.
"I held that position in the previous Assembly and I am wondering what had changed. My office has now been turned into a Committee room," he added.
Uasin Gishu is considered a key Jubilee stronghold and during the August 8 elections, the party won 28 out of the 30 MCA seats with ODM and an Independent candidate wining one seat each.