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Leaders condemn arrest of three Senators on day of crucial debate

Tuesday, August 18th, 2020 00:00 | By
Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi. Photo/FILE

Leaders from across the political divide yesterday condemned the dramatic arrest of three Senators, terming the move as draconian and dictatorial.

Amani National Congress (ANC) Party Leader, Musalia Mudavadi accused the Government of violating the independence and integrity of Parliament, saying the arrests were intended to specifically curtail their participation in the House.

“Parliament is under attack by the Executive. Arrest of Senators ostensibly to prevent them from attending to their duty in Parliament to vote for or against motions on county revenue sharing, is very unfortunate.

It’s a throwback to dark days we thought are behind us,” Mudavadi said in a statement.

Three senators, Cleophas Malala (Kakamega), Steve Lelegwe (Samburu) and Christopher Langat (Bomet) were arrested in a dramatic turn of events and in what they termed as intimidation.

For the better part of yesterday, a section of Senators protested the arrest and demanded that the revenue allocation formula debate be suspended until the three are set free.

 “Arresting Senators to stop them from a vote in the senate is equal to arresting article One, arresting the sovereign, and the ultimate foundation of our Constitution,” said Mudavadi.

He accused the Government of misusing law and order agencies by politicising the police.

“Decision-making in Parliament is achieved through persuasion and debate not brute force, intimidation, threats and arrest. Government can have its way but not through draconian means,” he added.

Condemned

Separately, Ford Asili condemned the arrests saying Kenya should not slide back to dictatorship.

Ford Asili Secretary General Njeru Kathangu condemned what he described as the strong-arm tactics and dictatorial tendencies exhibited by the Government.

“This is a dark day for Kenya reminiscent of the past when MPs were picked from the precincts of Parliament and from their houses to submit them and intimidate others,” said Kathangu, in a statement.

He added: “We ask those who suffered humiliations in the past and involved in state craft today not to give a blind eye to the present developments as it may turn against them.

Votes are won on the floor of the House by persuasion, not through intimidation.” Elsewhere, a group of legislators from the Rift Valley decried the intimidation of senators by the executive.

“Is it by coincidence that the three senators have been arrested as the house faces a stand-off over revenue allocation?

Is the siege against them justified in a democratic country?” asked Kericho Woman Representative Florence Bore.

Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina also termed the arrests as distasteful.

“…I told you guys the Moi era is back! We have sunk so low! Now embrace yourself for a rough ride! The reformers have turned errand boy of dictators,” OleKina posted on his twitter account.

“Instead of arresting Covid-19 millionaires they are sending a battalion to arrest Malala for distributing sanitizers to save Kenyans!” he added.

Injustice

With Senator Okong’o Omogeni saying: “I do not identify with the injustice being meted to our colleague. We must accept that an injustice here is an injustice meted to Kenyans.”

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo added: “As an advocate and legislator, I strongly condemn the arrest and intimidation of senators on account of their perceived position on a parliamentary vote. MPs should be persuaded by reason and logic and not by intimidation.”

“The Senate will not proceed this morning unless they produce Malala and Langat This is no longer about money it’s about our lives!” Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said.

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