Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka has stripped Narok Senator Ledama ole Kina as chairperson of the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee.
Through a letter dated Thursday, May 7, 2020, Lusaka wrote to CPAIC Vice-chairperson and Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi effecting the changes.
"This is to inform you that I am in receipt of a letter dated May 6, 2020, from Senator James Orengo, Senate Minority Leader, giving notice of the discharge of Sen Ledama ole Kina from the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee.
"Pursuant to standing order 190(2) of the Senate Standing Orders, I hereby convey to you the notice of discharge of Senator Ledama ole Kina from the committee," the letter by Speaker Lusaka read in part.
The Narok senator took to social media to express his disappointment following the ouster, further challenging the state of democracy in the country.
"Democracy is on trial in Kenya! The outcome of two recent events reminds me of the Thirty Tyrants of Athens. The forceful take over of Nairobi County from Mike Sonko and my de-whipping from Senate committee - CPAIC are classic examples. Modern-day Critias and Theramenes are?" Ledama remarked.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party on Thursday, May 7, moved to withdraw Ledama's membership from CPAIC days after his election.
"In accordance with the Senate Standing Order 190, I hereby give notice of the discharge and the removal of Senator Ledama ole Kina from the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee and the Senate Business Committee," Orengo's letter to Speaker Lusaka read in part.
Ledama had on his social media pages, stated that the letter by Orengo had no basis, adding that he had chaired his second meeting in the elected position.
"The letter by James Orengo has got no basis and must be treated with contempt! Because this committee is very powerful, they want a pushover, not me," he wrote on Twitter.
Ledama's ouster comes after he had called a truce with Orengo over the election that saw Ledama named the chair.
"I have had wide consultation on the issue of my elections as chair of Senate's CPAIC with James Orengo and the ODM Party and I want to make the following issues clear!
"My support for Raila Odinga and State House is solid and unshaken they have my unequivocal support," he stated on Wednesday, May 6.
Ledama had, however, maintained that he would not budge to ODM's demands.
