Lusaka seals Kang’ata Senate fate
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka yesterday upheld the ouster of Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata as Majority Chief Whip by the ruling Jubilee Party.
On Monday, Kang’ata was kicked out and replaced by his Kiambu counterpart Kimani Wamatangi during a Jubilee Party Parliamentary Group meeting held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).
In his communication to the House yesterday, Lusaka said he is satisfied the due process was followed.
“I am satisfied that the change was made in accordance with Standing Order 19(5) and (7) and meets the threshold required under Standing Order 19,” the speaker’s communication read in part.
Coalition meeting
Lusaka noted a letter regarding changes in the Office of the Senate Majority Whip was accompanied with the Minutes of the Majority Party Coalition meeting dated February 9, which is a record of the proceedings of the meeting together with the resolution.
It also had a duly signed list of Senators who attended the above the said meeting.
“Accordingly, I wish to communicate to the House that the Majority Party Coalition has effected changes in the Office of the Senate Majority Whip which shall now take effect. The Office holder therefore is Senator Kimani Wamatangi,” he added.
But raising on a point of order, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen asked the speaker to furnish the House with documentation including minutes that arrived on the decision to remove Kang’ata.
“It doesn’t matter it was done wrong for me, I still believe that Senator Kang’ata should have been treated differently.
He should been given fair hearing. The Jubilee side should have entertained alternative views,” said Murkomen, who was ousted as Majority leader in a similar manner.
In response, Lusaka opined that the documents that were presented to him by Majority party were not confidential and will be availed to them for everyone to see.
“As you know the Speaker does not belong to any political party. I only convey what I’ve been given by the leaders of the various political parties,” the speaker said.
“Whether they held meetings or not, is not my business. My business is that I trust that what is brought by the leadership is a true record of what exactly happened,” he added.
