This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
Kenyan Senators and MPs Clash Over Oversight Roles ¶
On July 3, 2019, a supremacy war between Kenya's two Houses of Parliament escalated after National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale warned Cabinet Secretaries that they risk being impeached if they honor Senate invites deemed 'immaterial'.
During a high-octane debate on a special motion in the National Assembly, Duale stated that MPs would not take it lightly if members of the Executive defy the directive. He emphasized that the Senate has no powers to impeach Cabinet Secretaries, and that the National Assembly is the only House with the authority to vet and remove state officers from office.
Senators have been accused of duplicating the legislative, representative, oversight roles, and organizational and institutional structures exercised by the National Assembly. Senate Committees, including Defense and Foreign Relations, National Security, Education, and Energy committees, have been accused of overstepping their mandate.
National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi faulted Senators for being 'ignorant on the law' with regards to their mandate, citing the Division of Revenue Bill 2019 stalemate. Mbadi referred to Senators as 'legislative bandits' who were out to take up the responsibility and functions of the National Assembly in an effort to expand their roles.
House Minority Whip Junet Mohammed described the Senators as 'busybodies' who were wasting public resources at the expense of the ordinary Kenyan. He vowed to petition the court to challenge the constitutionality of the offices of the Majority and Minority leaders in the Senate.
Leader of Majority in the Senate Kipchumba Murkomen responded to the MPs' threats, stating that they will not be cowed and will continue inviting Cabinet Secretaries to appear before committees where they deem fit.
