Senate Speaker Amason Kingi on Thursday, March 16 called off a planned Kamukunji set to iron out Azimio's house leadership wrangles.
Kingi's abrupt change of heart followed a heated debate on the floor of the house on Wednesday, March 15 after Nyamira Senator Okong'o Mogeni tabled a letter from the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT).
The letter gave the green light to the Speaker to communicate the new minority whip of the Senate.
"If that was the sticking issue, then that has now been done. Let us not play games with a small matter,” stated Senator Okong'o.
“This is to inform all Senators that the Speaker’s Kamukunji scheduled for Thursday 16th March, 2023 at 11 am at the Senate Chamber, Main Parliament Buildings has been called off due to other urgent Parliamentary Business,” the statement read.
‘Kamukunji’ is a word in Kenyan Parliamentary jargon that means an informal political gathering.
This was the latest twist in a protracted dispute that has been running for nearly a month.
In a session that saw tempers flare, Azimio Senators including Leader of Minority Stewart Madzayo implored the speaker to give communication concerning the de-whipping of Senator Fatuma Dullo.
This was after Azimio senators handed the Speaker a hard copy of the PPDT decision which if effected, would end the month-long stalemate.
During the heat of the debate, Kingi retreated to his office and handed over the Speaker’s chair to Garissa Senator Abdul Haji.
He promised to deliver the much-waited verdict before close of business as Azimio legislators waited.
However, this did not materialize as planned. He scheduled a Kamukunji that was to take place Thursday morning in order to give the way forward.
Azimio wants Dullo removed as Minority Whip and replaced by Narok Senator Ledama Olekina for visiting President Ruto at State House on February 8, 2023.
She was part of over 30 Members of Parliament from the Jubilee Party who agreed to work with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
This irked members of the Azimio-One Kenya coalition who castigated the lawmaker for working with the government. The minority side went on to de-whip her on February 15, 2023.
On February 28, Dullo got a reprieve after the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) stopped the Senate Speaker from issuing a communication to remove her as the minority whip.
