The Siaya County Assembly has unanimously suspended East Asembo Member of County Assembly (MCA) Gordon Onguru for 30 days over alleged disparaging and sexually suggestive remarks directed at President William Ruto and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.
The suspension follows the adoption of a motion accusing Mr. Onguru, an ally of Siaya Governor James Orengo, of conduct unbecoming of a state officer, violation of the Constitution, the Leadership and Integrity Act (2012), and assembly standing orders.
Moving the motion, Assembly Majority Whip Booker Bonyo stated that Mr. Onguru who was elected on a United Democratic Movement (UDM) ticket made the offensive remarks during a recent public gathering in Oyugis town, Homa Bay County.
”The said utterances allegedly contained sexually offensive, derogatory, and demeaning statements directed at both the President and the Governor of Homa Bay County, contrary to the constitutional values of leadership, integrity, human dignity, mutual respect, and decorum expected of a state officer,” Mr. Bonyo told the house.
Mr. Bonyo argued that the legislator’s remarks portrayed blatant disrespect toward women in leadership and women in general by reducing matters of governance to offensive references touching on gender and sexuality. He added that such utterances undermine constitutional principles of equality and freedom from discrimination under Articles 27 and 28 of the Constitution.
While a section of MCAs condemned the remarks as unfortunate, the debate drew some friction. A few members termed the 30-day suspension overly harsh, arguing that it was unfair to punish Mr. Onguru alone while sparing a senior Siaya County government official who was reportedly quoted making similar remarks at the same event.
Despite the pushback, the house ultimately voted unanimously to enforce the sanction. Mr. Onguru, who sat quietly throughout the proceedings, will be barred from participating in all assembly sittings, committee meetings, and accessing member privileges for the next month, except as permitted by standing orders.
Speaker George Okode, who presided over the session, has referred the matter to the Committee on Powers and Privileges.
The committee is tasked with investigating Mr. Onguru’s utterances to determine whether they constitute a breach of privilege, misconduct, or a violation of the Leadership and Integrity Act.
