Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi found himself in trouble when he was kicked out of parliament legislative chambers after raising concerns about the origins of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s wealth.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday, October 18, prompting a heated exchange between Atandi and Acting Speaker Rachael Nyamai.
During the parliamentary proceedings, Atandi, a staunch supporter of the Azimio coalition, openly questioned the source of the substantial sums of money that Deputy President Gachagua often carries in bags and generously donates in various churches and political gatherings.
Atandi’s comments were based on what he saw as a pervasive issue within the government, attributing the high cost of living in Kenya to corruption.
“Because this government has allowed corruption in all its ranks, you see a whole Deputy President carrying sacks of money going to church to give donations everywhere. You are displaying corruption and you want the country to prosper. It cannot work. Therefore, we must address these issues so that they can be resolved collectively,” Atandi stated.
Unparliamentary language
This bold accusation led to a contentious exchange with Acting Speaker Rachael Nyamai. MP Atandi was pressed to either substantiate his claims or retract them.
“The language you are using is unparliamentary. Based on Standing Order 91, you mentioned the Deputy President in a negative light. You have accused him of carrying money in bags. I want to invoke the Standing Order on the responsibility for statements of fact. I would like you to either substantiate your claims, withdraw them, or face expulsion. Are you willing to withdraw and issue an apology?” Nyamai retorted.
In response, Atandi remained resolute in his position, asserting, “I am addressing the issue of corruption, and I don’t see any reason to withdraw my statements because it is abundantly clear that government officials are involved in corrupt practices.”
“I want to emphasize that the Deputy President is openly seen carrying millions in bags to make donations. We all know that the law stipulates that an individual cannot withdraw more than Ksh1 million from their account. The question remains, where is he getting such substantial funds?” Atandi added.
In light of Atandi’s unwavering stance, Nyamai ultimately ordered the expulsion of the legislator from the parliamentary chambers. She cited Standing Order 107 1 (F), which pertains to members committing acts of disorderly conduct by making unverified statements.
