The Speaker of the Senate, Ken Lusaka, has suspended the hybrid Senate sittings that came into effect in March 2020 during the onset of the pandemic.
In his communication during the Tuesday sitting, Lusaka attributed the decision to the decline in the number of Coronavirus infections in the country as well as the need to bring back numbers to the House sittings.
“Whereas virtual/hybrid sittings have had a positive impact for Committees, the converse effect of this has been a drastic reduction in the number of Senators attending plenary sittings both physically and virtually,” said Lusaka.
He added that the decision was ratified by the Senate House Business Committee.
Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio noted that the decision was timely and cautioned members to still adhere to Covid-19 guidelines to avoid contracting the virus.
“We seem to be in total agreement that we resume normal House sittings,” he said.
Minority Leader James Orengo submitted that the move would foster good debate in the three months before the August polls when the House adjourns indefinitely.
“In order to have an honest and true debate we should be able to present and interact and I think this is the part of the debate that goes on,” Orengo noted.
"I believe there can never really be a true substitute for physical conduct of the business of the senate, especially in terms of the debates that go on," he added.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, however, asked the Senate Business Committee to reconsider the decision.
“You need to assure the house that where the Speaker will determine that a sitting of the Senate is to be done virtually, the provisions of standing orders shall still apply,” said Kajwang.
The guidelines issued by the Parliament and Senate in July 2020 were meant to remain in force for 30 days.
They included suspension of all plenary and committee sittings for both houses, suspension of visiting delegations and all parliamentary engagements and activities.
He added that Senators needed to be on the ground campaigning therefore, the House should allow provisions for such times.
