Hon Hafsa Mossi makes her contribution on the Motion this afternoon
Hon Mukasa Mbidde casts his vote
on the Motion. 36 members voted in favour of the Motion for the
removal of the Speaker, 2 voted against while there was one abstention.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Friday is the defining moment as House seeks to elect new Speaker
EALA has this afternoon voted to
remove Rt. Hon Dr. Margaret Nantongo Zziwa from office. This follows
overwhelming support of the Motion for removal of the Speaker by 36 to 2
votes (signifying over two-thirds majority in excess of 30 votes) on
the floor of the Assembly. Only one abstention was recorded.
Immediately, the Clerk of EALA
moved to declare the vacancy and announced that in accordance with
Article 7 of the Rules of Procedure, the names of candidates for the
election of Speaker shall be obtained within 48 hours from today (Friday
at 3.30 pm).
The sitting today was chaired by
the Presiding Officer, Hon Chris Opoka Okumu who was elected to preside
over the motion for removal of the Speaker on November 26th, 2014 at the
sitting in Nairobi. Rt. Hon Zziwa was absent from the Plenary today.
Earlier on in the morning, the
Assembly listened through and adopted the Committee on Legal Rules and
Privileges on investigation of the complaints raised in the motion for
the removal of the Speaker from Office. The Committee has been receiving
and assessing evidence submitted to it. The Committee also lined up a
number of witnesses among them being the Rt. Hon. Speaker of EALA,
Members and staff of EALA, and any other witnesses who it deems are
necessary for the discharge of their investigative mandate.
The report presented to the House
by the Chair of the Legal, Rules and Privileges Committee, Hon Frederic
Ngenzebuhoro, cites the inability of the Speaker to perform the
functions of the office arising from misconduct in accordance with the
provisions of the Treaty and the Rules of procedure. The report notes
that Rt. Hon Zziwa unilaterally made a decision to stop rotation
sittings in contravention of the provisions of the Administration of the
EALA Act, 2012. The Speaker is also accused of wasting resources of the
Community through poor time management, unnecessary delays postponement
of meetings and laisser-faire attitude to Assembly provisions.
“In August 2013 all members of the
Assembly went to Mombasa, Kenya as programmed in the EALA Annual
Legislative Calendar for 2013/2014 Financial Year. According to the
evidence available the members of the Commission and Chairpersons of all
the Standing Committees arrived one day before the workshop for a
consultative meeting. The Speaker who was supposed to chair the meeting
did not come as scheduled, nor did she delegate responsibility of
chairing the meeting”, a section of the report reads in part.
According to the findings, the
Speaker continued to be absent from duty station contrary to the terms
and conditions and hence giving inadequate supervision to the work of
the Assembly. Other areas include undermining the authority of the
Commission by changing the activities for 2013/2014 to suit personal
interests and practicing favouritism by denying other Members equal
opportunity.
The report also cites misconduct, the use abusive and derogatory language against Members and staff.
During debate today, Hon Saoli Ole
Nkanae remarked that Rt. Hon Zziwa had constantly used unsavory
language. “The Speaker created a monster out of this House, we have
turned into gladiators. It needs to end today” Hon Ole Nkanae
maintained.
Hon Hafsa Mossi appealed to the
Assembly to change the trend and take the right decision. “I have failed
to see Leadership in the Speaker, I hope we make the right decision
today”, she said.
Hon Dr. Odette Nyiramilimo said it was time for EALA to restore
its lost glory. “I hope we will elect a Member who will restore the
dignity of this House”, Hon Dr. Nyiramilimo remarked.
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