Senate proceedings turn messy as Azimio leadership row rages on

The Senate was on Wednesday yet again turned into a theatre of altercations between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Senators over last week’s purge in the opposition ranks.

Deputy Speaker Kathuri Murungi sent away - for three days - House Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo, his deputy Enoch Wambua, Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina and his Migori counterpart Eddy Oketch after the afternoon session degenerated into near chaos.

The Deputy Speaker later reversed his decision and lifted the suspension initially slapped against the four Senators.

A week ago, Minority Senators met Azimio leader Raila Odinga and a resolution was made; to take away the lucrative Senate Minority Whip position from Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo, who was part of the Jubilee Party delegation that visited State House a fortnight ago.

Her slot was handed to Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina. The Speaker has however declined to effect the change of guard, citing an order from the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT).

The Minority team accused the Speaker of taking sides in the matter, and as proceedings grew chaotic, Murungi cracked the whip and suspended the four Senators.

But the four Minority Senators defied the eviction orders, paralysing the afternoon session, with Murungi forced to suspend the sitting for 15 minutes.

The break however lasted 30 minutes, and it is during this time that the House leadership brokered a temporary truce.

Majority Leader Senator Aaron Cheruiyot stated: “I want to plead with you, because it’s within your power still, [that] you make communication, you pass a conversation, you can equally undo it...that the four colleagues that you had requested to leave the chamber, I personally plead on their behalf that you let that matter rest.”

Madzayo, who is also the Kilifi Senator, stated: “Bwana spika utaelewa ya kwamba katika bunge lazima kuwe na pande mbili...kwa hiyo sisi tukiwa pande hii na wale wakiwa pande ile, ni lazima saa ingine kutakuwa na hizo tofauti. Waswahili wanasema yaliyopita si ndwele, tugange yajayo.”

Senator Ledama, on his part, added: “The way things degenerate, sometimes, it is out of provocation. Whatever happened this afternoon is highly regretted.”

The Speaker used standing order number one to vacate his earlier communication for the four Minority Senators to leave the House.

“For sure in our standing orders there is no provision for forgiveness. I will use standing order number one, because it gives the Speaker some leeway to make some decisions...but please, next time it will not be business as usual,” stated Murungi.

A House leadership meeting has been convened for Thursday to iron out the minority leadership standoff that has dented the Senate’s reputation.