East Asembo ward MCA, Gordon Onguru (holding the phone) inside the Siaya County Assembly shortly before he was suspended from the Assembly for disparaging remarks against president William Ruto and the Homa Bay governor, Gladys Wanga./KNA
The Siaya County Assembly has suspended East Asembo MCA, Gordon Onguru over alleged disparaging remarks against President William Ruto and the Homa Bay governor, Gladys Wanga.
Following the unanimous passing of a motion, Onguru, elected on the United Democratic Movement (UDM) ticket, will remain suspended for a period of 30 days for ‘unbecoming conduct of a Member of the County Assembly and violation of the constitution, the leadership and integrity act, 2012 and the standing orders of the County Assembly'.
Moving the motion, majority assembly whip, Booker Bonyo said that Onguru, a close ally of Governor James Orengo, while addressing a public gathering in Oyugis town in Homa Bay County recently, allegedly made unprintable, offensive remarks against the president of the republic of Kenya and the governor of Homa Bay County.
“The said utterances allegedly contained sexually offensive, derogatory and demeaning statements directed at both the president and governor of Homa Bay County, contrary to the constitutional values of leadership, integrity, human dignity, mutual respect and decorum expected of a state officer under the constitution of Kenya, 2010," Bonyo told the house.
He said that the remarks portrayed disrespect towards women in leadership and women generally.
The assembly whip noted that such utterances undermine the constitutional principles of equality and freedom from discrimination under articles 27 and 28 of the constitution, diminish the dignity of women and promote harmful stereotypes that are inconsistent with the values of respect, inclusivity and protection of human dignity.
Contributing to the motion, a section of members described as unfortunate the remarks allegedly made by the East Asembo member.
However, some of the members described as harsh the punishment that the motion wanted the assembly to resolve, adding that it was not in order to punish Onguru alone and leave a senior Siaya county government official who was also quoted to have made similar remarks.
In the resolution, the assembly unanimously resolved to have Onguru, who was seated quietly in the assembly, suspended for 30 days.
During the period, he will not participate in the sittings or proceedings of the County Assembly or its committees and shall not access privileges accorded to members of the County Assembly except as may be permitted under the standing orders.
The speaker of the County Assembly, George Okode, who chaired the session, referred the matter to the committee on powers and privileges to undertake investigations into the conduct, statements and utterances of Onguru and determine whether they amount to misconduct, breach of privilege, violation of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 or conduct unbecoming of a member of the County Assembly.
