Why Azimio Wants Sabina Chege to Refund Millions Earned in Parliament Role

Azimio la Umoja Coalition is now pushing for the Jubilee nominated member of parliament Sabina Wanjiru Chege to refund money earned from her position as Deputy Chief Whip.

In a petition filed in court, Azimio accused the lawmaker of wasting taxpayers' money by running an office illegally.

The office holder of the Deputy Chief Whip earns north of Ksh500,000 a month plus other benefits including motor vehicle reimbursement for car purchase, special parliamentary duty allowance and daily subsistence allowance for local and foreign travels.

Azimio through lawyer Paul Mwangi asked the court to compel Sabina Chege to refund all the monies.

“…Declaration that the purported position of the whip of the Jubilee Party as a Parliamentary Party, be declared unconstitutional and be revoked... that the direction of the Speaker of the National Assembly for Sabina Chege be recognized as Jubilee Party whip, be revoked and that the direction for the Clerk of the National Assembly that facilities for Chege is a whip for Jubilee Party be accorded, be revoked,” read the court documents.

The Raila Odinga-led Coalition also sued National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula for allegedly violating the constitution in extending Sabina's stay in office.

Azimio attached parliament proceedings where Wetangula instead of dewhipping Chege as requested by the Minority Whip Opiyo Wandayi declined severally and instead recognized Jubilee Party, which is part of Azimio, an independent parliamentary party contrary to the law.

"In communication No.77 of 2023, the Respondent recognized the Jubilee Party as a Parliamentary Party and appointed Sabina Chege as the whip of the Jubilee Party in the interim," noted the letter.

"Through the same communication, Respondent also guided on the allocation of facilitation to the whip of the Jubilee party, Sabina Chege."

Wetangula and Sabina Chege are yet to respond to Azimio's suit.