Kingi Allows Orengo To Appear As National Assembly Counsel
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has dismissed a request by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s legal team to block Siaya Governor James Orengo from appearing as legal counsel for the National Assembly in the impeachment trial against the DP in the Senate.
“Having analyzed the preliminary objection raised in the appearance on the appearance of James Orengo for the National Assembly is hereby dismissed,” Kingi said.
Kingi noted that counsel for the DP submitted that Orengo is a full-time serving state officer. He further noted that Article 260 of the Constitution bars full-time state officers from engaging in any other gainful employment.
“The learned counsel for the Deputy President did not adduce evidence to prove indeed and demonstrate the allegation of gainful employment,” he said.
He said that the contention of the counsel of the Deputy President that his side would be prejudiced by the appearance of Orengo did not suffice.
DP’s legal team had objected to Orengo’s appearance for the National Assembly, citing his position as a state officer.
Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru argued that Orengo was a state officer serving as a first-term governor, and past decisions made by the house have squashed attempts of public officers to represent clients in the house due to conflict of interest.
“Governor James Orengo is a full-time serving state officer as per Article 260 of the constitution, which bars a full-time state officer from engaging in meaningful employment.
It would be prejudicial for this house to allow Orengo to represent the National Assembly in these proceedings,” he said.
Njiru cited the Kisii Deputy Governor Robert Monda case, where Senate Speaker Amason Kingi allowed the preliminary objection raised by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei to disallow National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro from representing the Deputy Governor.
“Just recently this House, which is a house of record during the impeachment of the Kisii Deputy Governor, the county assembly attempted to appear by legal counsel Sylvanus Osoro (South Mugirango MP), which was raised by Senator Cherargei which was sustained,” he said.
Kingi Allows Orengo To Appear As National Assembly Counsel