 |
| Siaya governor James Orengo |
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has taken offence at Senate Speaker Amason Kingi’s verdict to allow James Orengo to represent the National Assembly in Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment proceedings on Wednesday, October 16. Siaya governor James Orengo appearing in a past court session. Gachagua’s legal team had sought to have Orengo debarred from arguing on behalf of the National Assembly. Why Ahmednasir Abdullahi was angry with Speaker Kingi They cited a conflict of interest given that Orengo is a state officer, having been elected the governor of Siaya. In his ruling, Kingi avered that the deputy president’s lawyers had failed to prove their argument of prejudice, as far as Orengo’s presence in the trial is concerned.
Making his commentary via the X social network, Ahmednasir argued that the Speaker’s decision bordered on disregarding the same constitution Gachagua is accused of flouting. The lawyer argued that the constitution clearly states that a state officer should not appear in trials to represent parties. He claimed that Kingi’s decision was a travesty for the constitution and its provision of leadership and integrity. “The ruling by the Speaker of Senate, Hon Amason Jeffah Kingi, dismissing the objection by lawyers for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua objecting to Hon Gov James Orengo SC representing the National Assembly is grossly offensive to the constitution and utterly shameful. How can Gachagua be tried for breaching the Constitution while the Speaker of the Trial Chamber, the Senate, borrows the wise words of Justice Antonin Scalia and plays “jiggery-pokery” with a clear and unambiguous provision of the Constitution? Some things are TRANSPARENTLY … !” he said.
by Kai Eli
