Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

top
Murkomen (L) and Kihika (R) were among leaders who asked President Kenyatta to publicly commit to a peaceful transfer of power/FILE

Kenya

Temporary reprieve for Murkomen and Kihika at Parties Disputes Tribunal

NAIROBI, Kenya May 13 – The Political Parties Disputes Resolution Tribunal has temporarily suspended the coalition deal signed on Monday between the ruling Jubilee Party and KANU pending a case filed against it.

This follows a petition by Senators Susan Kihika (Nakuru) Caleb Kositany (Soy), Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East) and a Kenyan Albert Mutai.

The petition was filed at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal with respondents named as the Registrar of Political Parties, Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju and acting party Chairman Nelson Dzuya.

Jubilee Party and KANU are named as interested parties.

The petition sought an injunction restraining Tuju and the Acting Chairman from making any coalition agreements on behalf of the Jubilee party.

The Tribunal’s Deputy Registrar effectively issued an order suspending the agreement signed at State House during a Parliamentary Group Meeting chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, which stripped Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen of his Majority Seat, as well as Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika’s Majority Chief Whip post.

“An interim order be and is hereby issued restraining the 2nd and 3rd respondents from making coalition agreements on behalf of the 1st interested party, Jubilee Party with any party/parties without a valid formal resolution on a duly convened National Executive Committee of Jubilee Party,” the order reads in part.

Murkomen was replaced by West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio while Kihika was replaced by Senator Irungu Kangata of Murang’a.

The Deputy Majority Leader Senator Fatuma Dulo of Isiolo retained her seat with nominated Senator Farhiya Ali Haji taking the Deputy Majority Chief Whip’s post.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

The merger is largely seen as aimed at trimming Deputy President William Ruto’s influence in the Senate to size.

Murkomen has dismissed the Senate leadership changes as null and void.

Addressing journalists shortly after the changes were made public by State House, he said 23 Jubilee senators did not receive a formal invitation to attend the meeting, adding the Parliamentary Group meeting convened by President Kenyatta fell short of provisions of the Senate Standings Orders.

“No vote was carried out as required by the Standing Order 19 to remove the Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip,” Murkomen said.

Kihika, in a letter endorsed by 22 Jubilee Party Senators wrote to Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka protesting the changes.

She claimed the State House Parliamentary Group meeting was only attended by eleven senators, falling short of the minimum threshold of eighteen.

“What they are doing is forging signatures, they had 11 senators in Jubilee, it is a requirement that there is a notice of invitation, agenda must be clear, we were not aware what that was and they did not have enough senators to do what they did,” she said.

In the letter addressed to Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, the 23 legislators said no vote was taken in accordance with Standing Orders.

About The Author

Comments
Advertisement

More on Capital News

County News

KISUMU, Kenya March 29 – The Civil Society in Kisumu took to the streets on Good Friday to highlight the challenges facing Kenyans, reflecting...

Capital Health

NAIROBI, KENYA, MARCH 29 – The Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) has affirmed its commitment to resolving disputes with the government through dialogue...

County News

NYERI, Kenya Mar 29 – Nyeri Archbishop Antony Muheria has called for an end to glorification of corruption and impunity in the country. During...

CHINA DAILY

As consumers look to upgrade to smarter electric autos, fully self-driving cars are getting closer

CHINA DAILY

BEIJING, China Mar 29 – The mind-bending new Netflix series 3 Body Problem, an attempt to adapt Liu Cixin’s epic novel The Three-Body Problem for Western audiences, has...

CHINA DAILY

BEIJING, China Mar 29 – President Xi Jinping promoted two senior People’s Liberation Army officers to the highest military rank of general on Thursday....

County News

NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 29 – Kilifi County Governor Gideon Mung’aro has vowed to ban Muguka consumption in the county, citing its detrimental effects. The...

Top stories

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 29 – Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has directed the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) and Kenya Seed outlets countrywide...