Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly met 51 Senators allied to him and Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga, at State House Nairobi, on Friday, May 22, before Tharaka-Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki was ousted as Senate Deputy Speaker.
A report by the Daily Nation on Saturday, May 23, detailed that two buses picked up the Senators at Parliament, at around 10 a.m.
Kenyatta promised to revive the Senators’ oversight kitty which was slashed in June 2019. The National Assembly quashed Ksh500 million which was meant for a Senate county oversight kitty, dealing a blow to senators’ quest to monitor the expenditures of regional governments.
A source further hinted that Odinga’s team was asked to settle on a Deputy Speaker.
At State House, Kenyatta urged the Senators to oust Kindiki, as the move would pave way for a constitutional agenda. He urged them to prepare for two crucial tasks going forward.
The Head of State did not disclose what the assignments were but hinted that one was political and the other aligned to his legacy.
“The message was short and clear. They told us the coming days are crucial in constitutional reforms and we must clean the house by removing all those who don’t conform to their agenda,” one Senator seeking anonymity disclosed.
Reports further alleged that Kenyatta granted Odinga’s team a chance to chose the Deputy Speaker, with several nominees already settled on.
Before Kindiki was elevated to Deputy Speaker after the 2017 elections, Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina (ODM) had contested for the seat but lost as ODM fell short of numbers.
Odinga’s party has reportedly been offered back the chance and the party is poised to choose between Stewart Madzayo (Kilifi) Judith Pareno (Nominated) and Mutula Kilonzo (Makueni).
Mutula is the current Senate Minority Whip and if elevated to Deputy Speaker, his position would be reportedly taken by Ole Kina, who affirmed his loyalty to Odinga during the Senate plenary which saw Kindiki ousted.
“I stand here to say that I am fully loyal to my party ODM. I have been a loyal member of that party and my party leader has been informed by other squatters (I call them that because they are people who do not even have homes) that I was disloyal to the party. That is not true,” Ledama disclosed.
