This archive report was first published on 21 May 2020.
Senate Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindiki is facing the possibility of being ousted from office after Speaker Kenneth Lusaka published a notice for a special sitting on Friday to discuss his removal.
The move follows the filing of a motion seeking his removal by Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang'ata on Tuesday, and an ongoing purge against Deputy President William Ruto's allies.
Mr. Kang'ata annexed to the notice a list of 48 lawmakers who support the ouster – 26 from the Jubilee Party and 22 from the Nasa coalition. He expects support from three more senators.
According to the notice published in the Kenya Gazette on May 20, 2020, the special sitting will be held at the Senate chamber starting at 2:30 pm.
“In accordance with standing order 30 (5) of the Senate Standing Orders, the business specified in this notice shall be the only business before the Senate during the special sitting...” the notice says.
Some 45 senators are required to successfully remove the Speaker or his deputy from office. With Mr. Kang'ata having annexed a list of 48 senators supporting the ouster, the removal is as good as done.
However, the news of the possible ouster was not well received in Tharaka-Nithi County. The Njuri Ncheke council of elders expressed disappointment with the plan.
Speaking to the Nation on Wednesday, the elders' chairman Linus Kathera said they were consulting on the nature of the offense the senator committed and intervene before the ouster motion is discussed.
County politicians, led by former Governor Samuel Ragwa and Marimanti Ward Rep Susan Ngugi, also expressed disappointment with the plans to remove Prof. Kindiki.
