GARISSA Kenya October 3-Garissa County Assembly Speaker Abdi Idle Gure risks being charged with contempt of court after he refused to obey several court orders over House leadership squabbles.
Mr Gure is being accused of ignoring both the High court and political parties dispute tribunal orders restraining him from effecting the leadership changes at the assembly.
Justice John Onyiego ordered that the contempt of court application be served to the speaker and the other parties within three days.
Mr Gure, announced changes in the house leadership last month leading to confrontations at the assembly paralyzing the operations.
Mr Abubakar Khalif, after being replaced as the leader of the majority rushed to the court and obtained orders barring the speaker from effecting the changes.
Despite the court orders, the House speaker went ahead and announced the changes leading to a premature ending of the afternoon September 12 session.
In the changes, the speaker announced the replacement of Mr Abubakar Khalif (ODM) as the majority leader by Mr Mohamed Farah (Wiper).
Also Mr Ahmed Abdirahman replaced Mr Abdi Ibrahim as the Majority Whip while Mr Mahat Abdikadir replaced Mr Omar Abdi at the county assembly service board.
“Pending the hearing and determination of the application, an interim order is hereby issued staying the implementation of the decision and the declaration of the speaker of the county assembly pursuant to two letters dated September 3, on the replacement of the 1st and 2nd complainants as the majority party and Majority Whip in the county assembly of Garissa,” the High Court had ordered.
The Political Party Dispute Resolution Tribunal said, “That pending the hearing and determination of this application, this honorable tribunal hereby issues a temporary order restraining the 1st and 2nd respondents from assuming or continuing to assume or hold the office of the leader of majority party and majority whip in the county assembly of Garissa.”
Mr Gure then maintained that his office recognized the legitimacy of the new House leader despite there being a dispute within the majority coalition over the issue.
On September 15, Mr Khalif, aggrieved, went back to court reporting the speaker’s failure to adhere to the previous orders.
Justice J. Chigiti, a Garissa High Court Judge issued orders prohibiting the speaker from effecting House leadership changes.
The Judge further directed that his orders would stay until the matter of leadership change is heard and determined.
Atleast three sessions have been conducted at the Garissa County Assembly under the new leadership without the speaker communicating the court orders.
“It is surprising that despite being served with court orders, the speaker has continued to ignore the same and conducted sessions without communicating the court decision,” Mr Khalif said.
“It is unfortunate that the Speaker has decided not to be a neutral arbiter in this matter. He oversaw the violation of rules and procedures of electing a new leadership and now he has decided to ignore court orders,” he said.
He added, “Court orders are to be respected”.
Immediately after the chaos that rocked the assembly on September 12, Mr Gure, the speaker, said all the necessary rules and conditions had been observed by the majority coalition when electing new House leadership.
The inter partes hearing for contempt of court is set for October 12.
Mr Gure, the assembly speaker could not be reached for a comment on the recent development.
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