The new political structure renders Senate superfluous

NAIROBI: While still serving as the Member of Parliament for Ndaragwa, Jeremiah Kioni sought to have the Senate removed from the country’s political structure. At the time, the MP argued that at least, Sh960 million would be used on new constitutional offices. The concern was vindicated by the manner in which senators chose to conduct themselves and the absurd demands they made last year to have their salaries increased to unprecedented levels.

Increasingly over the past few months, some senators have engaged in acts that outline their disdain for the rule of law. A demonstration led by Narok County Senator Stephen Ole Ntutu led to the death of a demonstrator. In Makueni, competition between Governor Kivutha Kibwana and the Senator, Mutula Kilonzo junior culminated in a gun fight. In Bomet, Kakamega and Bungoma counties, relations between senators and governors are not rosy. On Wednesday, Uasin Gishu Senator Isaac Melly led a mob on a campaign to eject non-Kalenjins from Eldoret University, only days after Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko incited the public against Nairobi Governor, Evans Kidero.