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Senate names team to broker impasse

Tuesday, August 18th, 2020 00:00 | By
A section of senators who attended yesterdays special sitting. Photo/PD/SAMUEL KARIUKI

The Senate was forced to set up a team of 12 senators to broker a consensus deal over the controversial revenue sharing formula after an acrimonious debate that appeared headed for another stalemate.

The team will discuss the contentious issues and report to senators then reconvene next week to vote on the matter.

There was every indication that a vote yesterday would have divided the Senate that had already been highly charged by the dramatic arrest of three senators allied to the group led by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.

The team will comprise Sakaja, Mohamed Mahamud (Mandera), Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi), Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet), Mutula Kilonzo Junior (Makueni)

Others are Samson Cherargei (Nandi) Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Moses Kajwang’ (Homabay), Anwar Oletiptip (Lamu), Moses Wetang’ula (Bungoma), John Kinyua (Laikipia) and Ledama Olekina (Narok).

Senators Wetang’ula and Sakaja will be co-conveners.

While announcing the team, Minority Leader James Orengo said the team will meet today to set up their calendar.

“They will thereafter inform us whether we can have a Kamukunji if need be and a special sitting is suggested for Tuesday next week August 25,” he told the Senate.

“We hope we will be able to reach consensus by next week,” he added saying the team will do a public participation of its kind.

Supporting motion

Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio while supporting the motion warned that the appointed team should only call the special session when they have inked a deal.

“Let’s not be fast in calling a special sitting unless we are ready and have a deal for the country,” Senator Poghisio said.

The decision was reached after the House was forced to adjourn for 30 minutes to build consensus after a heated debate to once again adjourn the special sitting or extend its time until the matter was dispensed.

In the adjournment motion sought by Tharaka Nithi Kithure Kindiki, there was a tie in the vote after 29 senators voted either side.

Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata successfully moved a motion extending the Senate sitting time until the closure of business.

A total of 31 senators voted to okay the extension against 28 senators, who voted against the extra time.

Lusaka had earlier made a ruling blocking nominated senators from voting on behalf of Christopher Langat and Cleophas Malala who had been arrested. Steve Lelegwe (Samburu) was also arrested.

This is after Sakaja, Murkomen and Aaron Cheruiyot (Kericho) asked Lusaka to pronounce himself on the matter after the two wrote letters withdrawing their votes and barring anyone from voting on their behalf.

“The next order is nominated Senator Petronila Were’s amendment and Senator Were’s amendment will be voted on.

We want to know who will vote on behalf of Malala and on behalf of Bomet.” Senator Cheruiyot asked.

“Arresting the three senators ostensibly to allow their delegations to vote has failed miserably after the Speaker allowed the letters of senators Malala and Dr Langat denying anyone the right to vote on their behalf. Stalemate,” Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior tweeted after the Speaker’s ruling.

“I want to urge the leadership of the House that this is yet another opportunity to do what we did in the last House.

Let wisdom prevail. Let there be no winners or losers; let us be the Senate of Kenya,” Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula said as he pleaded with his colleagues not to antagonise each other. 

Interior officials summoned

Meanwhile, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i and his PS Karanja Kibicho alongside Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai and Attorney General Kihara Kariuki have been summoned to appear before the Senate’s Committee on National Security and Foreign Relations tomorrow after a no-show to explain the whereabouts and incarceration of the three senators.

The three lawmakers were arrested on Monday from their Nairobi residences and quickly whisked to Samburu, Bomet and Kakamega respectively.

Early Monday morning, the Senate unanimously voted to adjourn its sittings to establish the whereabouts of three of their colleagues said to be under arrest.

This followed a successful adjournment motion by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei who interrupted the debate over the arrests.

“You are raised very serious concerns about our colleagues, who are not here, I want to agree that I am a servant of this House.

When one of us is mistreated or is in the circumstances our colleagues find ourselves in, we must stand together as a team,” Lusaka earlier ruled.

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