This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
President Uhuru Kenyatta's endorsement of new Senate leadership has sparked a fresh storm, with Deputy President William Ruto's allies terming the changes as null and void.
On May 11, 2020, President Kenyatta chaired a meeting at State House, where West Pokot Senator Samwel Poghisio was endorsed as the new Senate Majority Leader, replacing Elgeyo Marakwet's Kipchumba Murkomen.
Additionally, Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika was ousted as Majority whip, to be replaced by Murang'a's Irungu Kang'ata. Isiolo senator Fatuma Dulo will remain deputy majority leader, while nominated senator Farhiya Ali replaces Mr Kang'ata.
However, in a letter to Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, Ms Kihika protested the changes, stating that the Senators at State House were less than the half of all Jubilee members required, and that no vote was taken to confirm the changes.
Ms Kihika said, 'The requirements that make it mandatory for more than half of the senators to remove a Majority Leader or Minority Leader was not met... No vote was carried out as required by the Standing order 19 to remove the Majority Leader and the Majority whip.'
She also claimed that the decision was not sanctioned by the National Executive Committee as required by the Jubilee Party Constitution.
Ms Kihika further stated that 22 senators of the ruling party's 38 – including three from Kanu – did not attend the meeting, which is more than the required 20 to remove the Majority Leader and the whip.
