President Uhuru Kenyatta summoned Senate leaders to State House to resolve the impasse on county revenue allocation ahead of the Tuesday, September 15 debate.
Speaker Ken Lusaka missed out on the crucial meeting with reports alleging that he was chairing a House Business Committee session to discuss how to handle the debate which has seen Senators get personal and emotional.
This was also a record tenth time the Senators were meeting to share the national cake.
Details of the meeting were privy. However, Kenyatta was focused on rallying the Senators to support and vote for the government-backed formula.
Majority leader Samuel Poghisio, his deputy Fatuma Dullo, Majority Whip Irungu Kang'ata and his deputy Farhiya Haji, Minority leader James Orengo, Minority Whip Mutula Kilonzo Jnr and his deputy Beatrice Kwamboka attended the meeting.
Vocal Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala was reportedly sidelined from the meeting.
Malala accused the government of frustrating him through arbitrary arrests and detention. His security aides were also allegedly withdrawn, forcing the Senator to break down in Parliament while lamenting that his life was at risk.
“I am a young father and husband. It is very disheartening for people to sit in a corner and think they can take my life. I humbly request this committee and the Inspector General of Police to take note that I have said time and again my life is in danger.
“Nobody is willing to give me security Mr. Chair. It is sad for me to walk around the streets of Kakamega and Kenya knowing that I’m going to die the next day," he stated.
Speaker Lusaka has faced criticism over failure to have Senators agree on a revenue sharing formula. Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen further accused him of bias and supporting other Senators who are allies of the government.
"I have a lot of experience in administration. Sometimes people want to trap you, they want to take you in a certain direction so that you can see you're being provoked to take a certain action. Sometimes when I find out that their intention is to disrupt the proceedings for certain reasons, I choose not to play along," Lusaka defended himself.
On Friday, August 21, Kenyatta also dismissed claims that he had a hand in the standoff. "The truth shall stand," the president declared as he emphasised that he would not engage in political utterances.
