Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja on Friday, January 7, responded to claims that he was offered Ksh30 million by Deputy President William Ruto.
A post doing rounds on social media alleged that the Jubilee politician was summoned by Ruto who directed him to mobilise his fellow Senators to shoot down the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill (NA Bill No. 56 of 2021).
It further claimed that Ruto had promised Sakaja Ksh30 million if the Bill, which was passed in the National Assembly on January 5, flops at the Senate.
Sakaja debunked the false and misleading report which he argued was doctored to suit a certain political analogy. The first-time legislator added that such fake reports indicated that its orchestrators were afraid of the outcome of the Senate vote.
"Tell your bosses to chill a bit (ease). There’s no political party amendment being discussed or voted for in the Senate until the week of January 24. Hold your horses. Mnaingia baridi mapema [You are getting nervous at an early stage]," he wrote.
The Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, January 11, to debate on the Bill which received overwhelming support from President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga allies at the National Assembly.
Senate Speaker, Ken Lusaka, revealed that the House leadership requested him to convene a special sitting to discuss the Bill.
“I have received a request from both the Leader of Majority in the Senate, Senator Samuel Poghisio (West Pokot), and his Minority counterpart, Senator James Orengo (Siaya), to convene a special sitting on Tuesday, January 11, which I have approved, and I will be gazetting the sitting,” Lusaka stated on Thursday, January 6.
Further, he noted that during the sitting, all members who wished to attend the proceedings physically would be allowed to do so while those unable to will participate virtually.
Lusaka, however, indicated that the Senate will vote by delegation as opposed to the system used at the National Assembly, where individual MPs cast their ballot.
"Voting will be by delegation as this is a matter that affects counties. They (Poghisio and Orengo) must get a minimum of 24 delegates, failure to which the Bill stalls," Lusaka explained.
In case the Senate differs with the National Assembly on any clause, the two houses will have to hold a mediation to deliberate the way forward. The clauses in question will then be amended by consensus.
Lusaka hoped for the best and also spoke against violence during the sitting as witnessed in the National Assembly where MPs traded blows and kicks.
Ruto's allies, who lost at the National Assembly, stated that they will move to court in the event that the Bill sails through the Senate.
