Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday, June 16, apologised to residents of Kirinyaga County after the Senate voted to establish an 11-member committee to investigate allegations against Governor Anne Waiguru during the decision on her impeachment trial.
Murkomen was among the most vocal Senators during the heated sitting as he opposed the formation of the committee, calling for the plenary to deliberate on the matter.
45 Senators voted in support of the committee with only 14 opposing it. Murkomen told Kenyans not to anticipate the committee decision as Waiguru had already been 'sanitized'.
He advised the residents to take up the matter through other channels, predicting that the committee would guarantee Waiguru's safety.
"Senate has sanitised and cleared the Governor of Kirinyaga. It’s done. Don’t wait for the Committee’s decision.
"To the people of Kirinyaga I am sorry we did our best but it is finished. Your fight for accountability has been frustrated by Senate don’t give up use other avenues," he wrote.
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka directed the committee to begin their work immediately and submit their findings within 10 days.
During the session, allies of Deputy President William Ruto including Murkomen and Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika described the committee as the 'Capitol Hill Sanitisation Committee'.
They were referencing Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga's private office. Leaders allied to Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta notably voted in support of the formation of the committee.
"Sadly impunity WON today and the great people of Kirinyaga lost! With the Capitol Hill Sanitisation Committee justice will be a mirage! We tried our best but it was already predetermined with the night meetings and all. We live to fight another day," Kihika wrote after the meeting.
Siaya Senator James Orengo, however, dismissed Murkomen and used a story from the Bible to explain his support for the committee.
Orengo claimed that there was a hidden hand behind the impeachment of Waiguru in the County Assembly, sparking loud protests from Murkomen.
"This Senate should never be in a position where there is a dictation on how we handle our business. This is a very important institution.
"But I want to say this to finish, if you are like Herod's daughter Salome who danced so well, and Herod asked her 'what do you want?', she said 'John the Baptist's head'.
"Today, Some people have danced so well, they are not looking for justice, they are looking for somebody's head.
"Waiguru's head is being asked for not by the County Assembly, and I have evidence. I can tell you," Orengo asserted.
Watch Murkomen clash with Orengo in the Senate below:
Waiguru Impeachment Debate |
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 16, 2020
Senator Orengo: Senate should never be in a position where there is a dictation of how we do our business… Waiguru’s ‘head’ is being asked for not by the County Assembly of Kirinyaga but by ‘other people’ pic.twitter.com/yAXFQFrGwK
