This archive report was first published on 22 May 2020.
On May 22, 2020, the Kenyan Senate witnessed a dramatic turn of events as Deputy Speaker Kindiki Kithure was ousted from office. The motion to remove him was moved by Majority Whip Irungu Kang'ata, who cited Kindiki's failure to attend a Jubilee Coalition Parliamentary meeting at State House a week ago as a reason for the party's loss of confidence in him.
Kindiki's tenure as Deputy Speaker came to a premature end after 56 Senators voted in favor of his removal, surpassing the 2/3 majority required. His support stood at seven, with Senators Murkomen, Kihika, Cheruiyot, Cherargai, Linturi, Kinyua, and his own vote being the only ones to oppose the motion.
The ousting of Kindiki was met with a heated debate, with Minority Leader James Orengo and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen engaging in a shouting match. Murkomen rose on a point of order, seeking directions on whether Kindiki had been notified of the charges against him, while Orengo challenged him to cite sections of the constitution and standing orders that require the Deputy Speaker to be notified.
Despite the efforts of Kindiki's supporters, the motion to remove him was ultimately successful. The Senate's decision to oust Kindiki marks a significant development in the ongoing purge within the Jubilee Coalition, with many Senators facing the risk of losing their positions.
