NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 15 – The Senate session on Wednesday degenerated into a shouting match and name-calling with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna insulting the temporary Speaker Abdulkadir Mohamed Haji as “rubbish”.
The Speaker also responded back and told the Nairobi Senator that he was also “rubbish” and ordered the Sergent at Arms to kick him out.
The drama ensued after Migori Senator Eddy Oketch sought to inquire about the progress of the substantive Speaker’s Communication regarding the leadership changes of the minority.
“Speaker protect me from goons from the other side,” he said while directing his utterances to the House Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot.
Speaker Amason Kingi had earlier vowed to make communication regarding the minority leadership changes that saw Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo de-whipped from her Minority Whip position.
For almost three weeks, the Speaker has failed to communicate the changes fuelling the tensions in the House with members of the minority side often boycotting the sessions in protest.
An irate Senator Oketch protested Sifuna’s ejection from the House and accused the Majority side of “destroying the House”.
Temperatures later cooled in the House with Nyamira Senator Okong’o Omogeni pleading with his colleagues to exercise restraint and show sobriety.
“Let us always remember that people are watching. Even when we have differences let us retain the dignity of this House,” he said.
The House Majority Leader Cheruiyot regretted that some members had resorted to soiling the reputation of the House as he called for tolerance.
“The habit of insulting the Speaker we should not encourage,” he said.
House Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo apologized to the Speaker and acknowledged that members from both sides had degraded the integrity of the House.
“We have today wronged and I apologize,” he said.
