Drama as Migori Senator Eddy Oketch kicked out of Parliament

There was drama during a Senate plenary session on Tuesday when Migori Senator Eddy Oketch was ordered out of the chamber by Speaker Amason Kingi following a heated standoff over the Division of Revenue Bill.

Trouble started when Oketch protested the reintroduction of the Bill to the order paper, arguing that Senators had not been adequately briefed on how the decision was reached before Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot moved it for debate.

“I beg that this Bill should be put aside, we must be briefed even in a kamukunji how a decision was made for this Bill to come back into the order paper, Mr Speaker. Otherwise, we are not going to progress as a House…you cannot explain to us while moving the Bill! We cannot take it! That is disrespect to the House and me,” said Oketch.

As tensions escalated, Cheruiyot accused the Migori Senator of being disruptive as he attempted to move the Bill.

Cheruiyot, while defending his position, said he had remained respectful when other Senators spoke and expected the same courtesy.

“I don’t want to lose my cool, Mr Speaker. I don’t know how to shout back at Senator Eddy…I didn’t complain about the Nairobi Senator because I didn’t hear him say anything, but it is Senator Eddy who is becoming unruly this afternoon and I don’t find that to be fair,” said the Kericho Senator.

“In this House, we respect each other as colleagues and when he rose to speak, I listened to him; I did not necessarily agree with what he was saying but I calmly sat back and listened to him.”

According to Cheruiyot, his main concern was ensuring counties receive more funding and thus the push to have the motion moved.

“My particular interest in this Bill is seeing the Bill that is proposing Ksh.420 billion when we know we need to push the National Assembly to secure a minimum of Ksh.450 billion for our counties, and that takes time and that is why I want us to begin this process,” he stated.

Speaker Kingi intervened and urged Oketch to allow the Majority Leader to make his submissions.

“Order, Senator Eddy. You have made your point, allow the Majority Leader to make his,” said Kingi.

However, even after the Speaker allowed Cheruiyot to proceed, Oketch continued interjecting, prompting Kingi to order his removal from the chamber.

“Senator Eddy, I gave you an opportunity, and you spoke what you had to speak, the explanation has been given…order!!”

“Senator Eddy leave the Chamber immediately! If you don’t leave in the next few seconds, Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the member out of the Chamber,” ruled Kingi.

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna later rose in support of Oketch, calling on Cheruiyot to apologise to Senators for attempting to move the Bill without first addressing concerns raised by members.