Drama ensued at the Senate on Thursday after Speaker Amason Kingi threatened to eject Kajiado Senator Seki Lenku Ole Kanar from the proceedings, sparking accusations of bias and an intense exchange.
Tensions boiled over during a heated session when Senators were seeking clarifications from Abdi Ahmed Mohamud, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission's (EACC) deputy CEO. As Mohamud attempted to address the questions posed, Senator Seki grew visibly frustrated, raising his voice in protest.
His grievances centred around feeling sidelined, as Speaker Kingi continued to instruct the witness to answer the previously raised queries.
Amidst the mounting tension, Senator Seki accused the Speaker of partiality, declaring, “I represent the people of Kajiado. I have a right to speak in this Assembly. But there seems to be a bias.” His remarks set off a wave of reactions from fellow Senators and caught Speaker Kingi’s attention.
In a stern response, Speaker Kingi hit back at the Senator, warning him to either retract his accusation or face the consequences. “You cannot say the chair is biased. Senator Seki, you either apologise, or I throw you out,” Kingi threatened, intensifying the already volatile atmosphere.
Initially standing his ground, Senator Seki hesitated to offer an apology. However, following the intervention of other Senators who urged him to back down, he reluctantly conceded. A hot mic captured some of his colleagues encouraging him to relent, with one remarking, “Apologise. We need you.”
As Speaker Kingi sought to restore order, he issued stern warnings to three Senators – Seki, Okiya Omtatah, and Chute Mohamed Said. “We are going with lots. There is no Senator who is more important than the other,” Kingi stated, emphasising equality in the House.
He continued, “Chute, Omtatah, and Seki, you are out of order, and I am cautioning you.”
This comes as the impeachment process becomes more tense with cross-examination and the floor being opened for Senators to ask questions. On Wednesday, a day in which the National Assembly laid its case against the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, cross-examination of MP Mwingi Mutuse, the mover of the impeachment motion was by far the most memorable moment.
The contentious cross-examination began when Mutuse was asked to answer questions about shares purportedly owned by Rigathi Gachagua in the Vipingo Beach Company.
“It may be getting hotter but look at the document, compose yourself, and read. What is the total number of shares in Vipingo Beach Company?” Ongoya quipped. This was one of the companies that was purported to have been owned by the DP in the impeachment motion. Needless to say, by the end of that vein of questioning, Mutuse admitted that all 10,000 shares of the company were owned by the late Nderitu Gachagua.
He was also questioned on Gachagua’s alleged tribalism by using the term ‘Mlima’ to refer to the Mount Kenya people by lawyer Tom Macharia who asked, “So Mlima is a tribe? Do all those 10 counties have one tribe?” He received the obvious answer was “no” thereby challenging the tribalism claims.
