This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, the Kenyan Senate witnessed an unprecedented drama as two female senators, Mary Seneta and Beatrice Kwamboka, engaged in a physical altercation over the election of Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina as the vice-chair of the Senate Health Committee.
The incident occurred after Deputy Majority Whip Farhiya Ali disputed the election results and allegedly demanded its postponement, claiming that she had been unfairly accused of forging the signature of Senator Milicent Omanga to support Ledama.
Beatrice Kwamboka, one of the senators involved in the altercation, threatened to deal with her colleagues, stating, 'You can not tell me anything, I am Raila Odinga's person and I am in the leadership, I will deal with you.'
During the incident, the two senators reportedly tore each other's clothes while their colleagues watched. Ledama Ole Kina, the elected vice-chair, expressed disappointment over the chaos, stating that he often faces trouble after being elected to various Senate committees.
He claimed that he had been unfairly targeted, citing his previous election as the chair of the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee (CPAIC), which was later revoked. Ledama had agreed to step down from the CPAIC position after a private meeting with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
