Murkomen wants any Senator allowed to occupy watchdog committee Chairperson seat

Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen now wants any Senator be allowed to occupy the Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC) chairperson seat.

This comes amid a heated standoff over control of the powerful position that was taken over by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina following his election to the seat.

Ole Kina was on Monday elected CPAIC chair after garnering 5 votes against Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri’s 4, replacing his outgoing Homa Bay counterpart Moses Kajwang.

On Thursday, however, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) which controls the seat launched a bid to remove Ole Kina from the seat, expressing what they termed as “dissatisfaction with the conduct and outcome of the elections.”

The Senate Standing Order 220 specifically provides that the Chairperson of the CPAIC shall be a member of the 2nd largest party or coalition of parties in the Senate.

In a letter to the Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, Murkomen, says he will propose an amendment to Senate Standing Order 220 to ensure that any Senator can have a chance to serve as a chair of the committee notwithstanding the political side they belong.

“Mr. Speaker, it is our considered opinion that the leadership of the County Public Accounts Committee should be left to the determination of the Senators and the Committee members who have been appointed based on their party strengths in the Senate,” says the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator.

“Reserving the position for specific political party presupposes that there is a correlation between parliamentary party strength in the Senate and the formation and running of the County Governments.”

The Senate Majority Leader maintains that every Senator has equal responsibility to oversight their respective counties notwithstanding the Political Party the Governor represents.