Amason Kingi elected Senate speaker as Azimio side stages walkout

Amason Kingi takes an oath after he was elected as the Senate Speaker. [Boniface Okendo, Standard] Former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi has been elected Senate Speaker amid protests from a section of the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya senators who refused to participate in the election they described as a "charade" and a "fraud." Mr Kingi received 46 votes to win the seat at the first attempt long after the Azimio legislators had staged a walkout from the chambers. He will be deputised by Meru Senator Murungi Kathuri who was elected unopposed after his two opponents withdrew from the race. Kingi sailed through easily after Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, his main opponent, withdrew from the race at the last minute. Other candidates were Isaac Aluochier, George Bush, Beatrice Kinyua, George Kuria and Fredrick Karuri. The former governor's election was marred by protests and jeers as Azimio lawmakers attempted to disrupt the sitting, a move that was thwarted by the Clerk of the House, Jeremiah Nyegenye, who administered the oaths. The Azimio senators had, after taking the oath, put up a spirited fight on the floor of the House to push the clerk to suspend the business of the House until some issues they said were of concern to them were addressed. Senators Moses Kajwang (Homa Bay), Okong'o Omogeni (Nyamira) and Ledama ole Kina (Narok) led the onslaught as Kenya Kwanza lawmakers booed them. First, they wanted the issue of who between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio holds the majority in the House be determined before the vote on the speaker was taken. Azimio senators consider UDM's decision to cross over to Kenya Kwanza as fraudulent and demanded that the clerk compels the party, whose leader is Mandera Senator Ali Roba, to return to Azimio's side until his withdrawal follows the laid down procedure. The coalition agreement, signed in line with the Elections (Amendment) Act 2022 passed last April, provides timelines in which constituent political parties can be members of a coalition. "We passed the law in this House not long ago but its being raped with impunity," said Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, who insisted UDM should return to Azimio. Kajwang claimed that the last-minute gazettement of nominated senators, a majority of whom are women, was a scheme by IEBC to deny them the opportunity of participating in the election of the deputy speaker. "Nominated senators were only gazetted late yesterday, hence disenfranchising them from contesting for the office of the deputy speaker, which they also qualify for," he told the House even as he urged Nyegenye to suspend the sitting to give the nominated senators an opportunity to be briefed on their right to participate. "The best way is to suspend this sitting so that all those who want to contest as deputy speakers get the opportunity to submit their papers," said Kajwang. Omogeni claimed that Kingi had not submitted clearance certificates from relevant government agencies in line with Chapter Six of the Constitution, pointing out that he had been a subject of many parliamentary adverse reports when he served as governor. However, his submission was drowned in jeers and boos from Kenya Kwanza senators, prompting him to dismiss them as hypocrites. "It is your problem if you have no respect for Chapter Six," he fought back, "We cannot afford to elect an individual until we are satisfied that he has been cleared by EACC, DCI and KRA." However, Baringo Senator William Cheptumo accused the Azimio team of having nothing substantive to discuss, dismissing their claims as a feeble attempt to delay House business. "The qualification of the Speaker is provided for in the Constitution and it is not upon this House to arrogate itself such powers," he said. However, The Standard learnt that the walkout by the lawmakers had a deeper symbolism on the Azimio coalition. Hours to the vote, Kalonzo had pulled a first one on them and withdrawn from the race, leaving the coalition with neither a candidate nor the time to make a replacement. The move is said to have infuriated the lawmakers who thought the decision to withdraw, having been made hours after the coalition's parliamentary group meeting at Maasai Lodge in which the Wiper leader had shown interest in the Senate, was a betrayal. At the meeting, Kalonzo had told the PG, which included President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga that he was comfortable with the Senate Speaker seat. Yesterday, there were unconfirmed reports that the Wiper leader had opted out as part of a deal with Kenya Kwanza to smoothen the road for Kingi in exchange for a role in the William Ruto government. However, a member of Azimio Council told The Standard that Kalonzo withdrew from the race after he discovered he had no chance. "He called last night and told us that his calculations showed that he had no numbers," said the official, who added that the Wiper leader decided to drop out because he didn't want to be called a loser.

Amason Kingi elected Senate speaker as Azimio side stages walkout

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