Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale caused a fracas in the first sitting of the Senate on Thursday, September 8, after he threw thinly veiled attacks on Homa Bay counterpart Moses Kajwang’ who called for the suspension of the election of the speaker and deputy speaker positions.
Khalwale, who made his comeback to the Senate after five years, claimed that Kajwang' was following unknown house orders which were reportedly equal to fish farming.
"I can see the attempt by Moses Kajwang' to suspend the sitting of this house through a Standing Order. If indeed you want to suspend the sitting, follow protocol.
"Probably those are Standing Orders of trading fish and so on and so forth," the Kakamega Senator trolled his colleague who comes from the lakeside region.
His sentiments sparked an uproar in the Senate, with his colleagues urging the clerk, Jeremiah Nyegenye, to kick him out of the chambers.
Khakwale, nonetheless, proceeded with his speech, adding that Kajwang’ should allow the proceedings to continue rather than rallying his colleagues to support his call.
Khalwale asked the clerk to deny all attempts to suspend the scheduled elections.
"It would be wrong for us to attempt to suspend the Senate sitting. Let us proceed to elect the speaker," Khalwale added.
The clerk, however, intervened and directed him to withdraw his 'objectionable' remarks before he called the house to order. He also assured the Senate that the election will not be suspended.
Senator Kajwang had argued that the gazettement of 20 nominated senators was done less than 48 hours before the first sitting, leaving out the new cohort.
He added that the nominated senators did not get a chance to apply to contest for the speaker and deputy speaker positions.
Azimio La Umoja senators, nonetheless, eventually walked out of the chamber claiming that their issues were not adequately addressed. Their protest was also in line with Kalonzo Musyoka withdrawing from the speaker race.
