Senate Speaker Amason Kingi on Wednesday kicked out Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua from the chambers over his conduct as the house debated the impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The Speaker ordered the lawmaker out of the house for yelling just as as Meru Senator Kathure Murungi rose to contribute on whether the case against the Deputy President should be referred to a select committee or the whole plenary.
‘’This is my direction, Senator Wambua, which Standing Order are you standing on? Senator Wambua leave the chamber now for the rest of the day. We need to be orderly in this matter, you need to behave in an orderly manner Senator Wambua’’ Kingi ordered.
After his directive to Wambua, Kingi cautioned other Senators over misbehavior vowing that he would not hesitate to kick out any other lawmaker who conducts themselves in an unparliamentary manner.
''We need to be orderly in this matter as we are going to handle a very heavy matter, we cannot have any member heckling the Speaker,’’ Kingi ordered.
Wambua found himself on the Speaker's wrong side when insisted members had to be given an assurance that justice would be accorded in the impeachment hearing.
''The whole country is looking up to Senate for justice to be seen to be done, therefore, it is time to demonstrate real leadership. It is my prayer that we will be given ample time to prosecute this impeachment so that we avoid a situation like the one that happened during Kawira’s case impeachment,'' Wambua stated.
''Mr Speaker you have given assurances that both parties will have sufficient time to prosecute cases. Let that assurance also go out that the judges sitting on this matter that they will also have sufficient time to reason to caucus and steer this thing properly,'' he added.
According to Kingi, Senators need to display decorum during the debate given the significance of the matter at hand and how emotive it is.
''Honourable Senators, the process we are about to take is very important as the nation is watching, the world is also watching, decorum is the least that will be expected for members,’’ he added.
This came even as Kingi gave directives that the impeachment hearing will take two days from the constitutionally provided 11 days to enable the Senate deliver the verdict in a timely manner.
The Speaker directed the Senators to discuss the impeachment hearing within two days. He also advised the lawmakers to be impartial in the hearing observing that each party would be given a fair opportunity.
''Honourable Senators I have directed that this matter be heard within two days, but one thing that I want to assure the country that the Senate is going to do justice in this matter and that each party will be granted justice,'' Kingi asserted.
The Senate also ruled that the impeachment motion against DP Gachagua will be handled by the Senate plenary (full house), this is after Nairobi Senator Sifuna moved to oppose a motion by the Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot to have a select committee handle the matter.
“This is a matter that is very unique and has elicited public attention. Therefore, given the mood of the house especially on the minority side, I respectfully decline to second that motion.” Sifuna told the house.
