Senate Speaker race: Why Azimio senators staged walkout, boycotted voting

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya-allied senators on Thursday afternoon staged a walkout from Senate chambers shortly before the voting for Speaker began.

The senators, in a press briefing just outside Parliament Buildings in Nairobi, claimed some of the candidates for the Speaker seat had integrity issues.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang said they had earlier raised the issue, but were "dismissed" by the Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye.

"We needed a declaration and determination from the clerk whether persons indicted by the House should be eligible to run for the speakership. The clerk did not address the issues we raised today and was persuaded by the other side," said Kajwang.

The lawmaker also pointed out Wednesday's gazettement of nominated senators by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), claiming it was a ploy to deny the appointees a chance to vote today.

"The late gazettement of nominated senators by IEBC points to a pattern of ensuring that these 20, who largely represent women, youth, and persons with disabilities, are denied their right to participate in the election today.

"We'd asked the clerk to adjourn the House to allow the nominated senators to put in their applications and he dismissed us on a technicality," said Kajwang.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General and newly-elected Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said senators allied to Azimio la Umoja won't be taking part in what he termed a "fraudulent process".

"We have not been given the opportunity to interrogate the qualifications and suitability of the candidates. We don't feel the need to sanitise an already-corrupt process," said Sifuna.

Earlier, Kalonzo Musyoka, who was fronted as Azimio's pick for the Senate Speaker, withdrew his candidature hours before the election, to the surprise of many.

Clerk of the Senate Jeremiah Nyegenye told the newly sworn-in senators that Musyoka, in a letter dated September 8, 2022, and addressed to his office, revealed his decision to withdraw from the race.

A senator was heard shouting in disbelief "what?" after Nyegenye's announcement of Musyoka's withdrawal.

Pursuant to Standing Order Number 8, a candidate may, by written notice to the clerk, withdraw his or her candidature before a ballot is started.

There were six candidates eyeing the Senate Speaker seat. They are Isaac Aluochier, George Bush, Fredrick Karuri, Amason Kingi, Beatrice Kinyua, and George Kuria.