Opiyo Wandayi
 |
James Opiyo Wandayi | |
|---|---|
 Wandayi in 2024 | |
| Preceded by | John Mbadi |
| Constituency | Ugunja |
| Cabinet Secretary of Energy | |
| Minority Leader of The Kenya National Assembly | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 June 1972[citation needed] Muhola, Sidindi Ward[citation needed] |
| Citizenship | Kenya |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Political party | Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) |
| Alma mater | University of Nairobi Kenya Institute of Management Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Daystar University |
| Occupation | Politician |
James Opiyo Wandayi MGH,[1] CBS (born 22 June 1972) is an agricultural and development economist and Kenyan politician currently serving as the Cabinet Secretary of Energy and Petroleum.[2][3]
Early life and education
[edit]Wandayi received his Kenya Certificate of Primary of Education (KCPE) from Sikalame Primary School in 1986. He then enrolled in Sawagongo High School where he received Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in 1990 and enrolled in University of Nairobi to pursue Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He joined Kenya Institute of Management in 2008 for Diploma in Business Management. In 2010 he joined Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology for MBA Executive. He is currently pursuing LLB at Daystar University.[4]
Political career
[edit]Wandayi is a Member of Parliament representing the Ugunja Constituency in Siaya county.[5] He is a member of Orange Democratic Movement and a coalition member of Coalition for Reforms and Democracy.[6][7]
He was once ejected from parliament after disrupting President Kenyatta’s State of the Nation address[8][9] by constantly blowing a whistle.[10][11][12] He was given a suspension from parliament from March until the end of the session.[13] He challenged the action by the Speaker before the High court which ordered he be allowed back to the House citing that his electorate were not being represented.[14][15]
Controversy
[edit]Unlawful Assembly and Destruction of Private Property
[edit]On 20th March 2023 it was widely reported that Wandayi along with some Azimio members of parliament were involved in destruction of private property while he was a Minority Leader of parliament during an unlawful assembly.[16][17]In the same month, Wandayi along with the involved Azimio members of parliament were arrested and charged in court for damaging the vehicle of Joyce Nyambura while conducting an unlawful assembly within Nairobi along city Hall way.[18]
According to the arrested Azimio members of Parliament, they had planned to kick off their march to state House to "claim their victory" following Ruto's 2022 presidential election win whose victory they opposed.[16] In the same matter Azimio accused police of siding with the government instead of being non-partisan.[19] In April 2023, the DPP dropped the charges against Wandayi to pave way for an alternative settlement between the aggrieved parties.[19]
Honors
[edit]Honors received by Opiyo include:
- Moran of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (MGH)[20][21][22]
- Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS)[23]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Kenya Law | Kenya Gazette". kenyalaw.org. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1OYEaN7mpQ.
{{cite AV media}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Hon James Opiyo Wandayi, MP, CBS, MGH | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ^ "HON. WANDAYI, JAMES OPIYO | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
- ^ "Hon James Opiyo Wandayi, MP, CBS, MGH | The Kenyan Parliament Website". www.parliament.go.ke. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Respect Raila or leave ODM - MP Opiyo Wandayi tells rebels". www.pd.co.ke. 2022-12-18. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "Respect Raila or form your own party, ODM leaders told". The Star. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ Nguta, Judy. "Uhuru Kenyatta's address in Parliament disrupted by whistling MPs". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Kenyan President's Speech Interrupted by Whistling Lawmakers". VOA. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Why I disrupted President Uhuru's speech – suspended MP Opiyo Wandayi". Citizen Digital. 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ OYWA, OLIVIA ODHIAMBO AND JOHN. "I will keep my whistle ready, says suspended MP Opiyo Wandayi". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ Ngetich, Jacob. "Ugunja residents 'biggest losers of House chaos'". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "Court 'overturns' Muturi's suspension of MP Opiyo Wandayi". Citizen Digital. 2016-07-04. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ Njagih, Moses. "Reprieve as Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi back in the House". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "Court suspends MP Wandayi's year-long ban from Parliament over misconduct". Gender in Kenya. 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2023-03-28.[dead link]
- ^ a b Ciuri, Simon (23 March 2023). "Azimio protests: Opiyo Wandayi, 3 other MPs released on bail". Daily Nation.
- ^ Kiilu, Damaris. "Six Azimio leaders charged with unlawful assembly, malicious damage". The Star (Kenya).
- ^ Asamba, Mercy. "In courts today: Six Azimio leaders to be arraigned over protests". The Star (Kenya).
- ^ a b Kurgat, Paul. "Case Against Opiyo Wandayi, Other Leaders Dropped After Raila Demand". Kenyans.co.ke.
- ^ "Kenya Law | Kenya Gazette". kenyalaw.org. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ "President Ruto confers state honours to 483 Kenyans for their outstanding service to the nation". Citizen Digital. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ Ng’etich, Jacob. "Ruto awards Chebukati, parliamentary leaders state commendations". The Standard. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- ^ "Gazette Notice 18 December 2020" (PDF). The Kenyan Gazette. Retrieved 2023-04-25.