Drama thrived from several senators on the first day of the senate sitting after a long recess and among them was Nairobi’s senator Edwin Sifuna being kicked out of the meeting for shouting at Speaker Amason Kingi.
Senator Sifuna was ordered out of the Senate Chambers for heckling as Speaker Amason Kingi was addressing the House.
The Senators were debating a concern raised over inappropriate dressing by Nominated Senator Karen Nyamu, who was wearing a sleeveless blouse, which is contrary to the House rules.
Migori Senator Eddy Oketch who raised the issue insinuated that the inappropriate dressing by Nyamu was a case of a bad example being set by the majority side of the House.
“Mr. Speaker, guide the House on whether Senator Nyamu is properly dressed… Mr. Speaker, I’m concerned with the kind of leadership the majority side is showing this House. We are degenerating to watering down the sense of parliament,” said Senator Oketch, triggering an uproar in the House.
“I beseech the majority leader and majority whip to really really have a conversation with your members. It is very embarrassing what we are seeing in this House,” added Oketch.
At that moment, Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi rose on a point of order to rebuff Senator Oketch’s remarks.
“We are over 60 people here… It is not about Kenya Kwanza but an individual. If someone is inappropriately dressed it’s not about the coalition…,” said Mundigi before Senators from both the majority and minority sides got into a shouting match in the House.
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi then rose to bring the House into order. “Order members! Order members!” said Kingi.
As the Speaker was addressing the lawmakers, some of the senators could be heard heckling and it is at this point that Kingi singled out Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
“The Senate leadership has taken its time to take you through various inductions. I’m shocked. Can the chair be heard in silence… Senator Sifuna you are out of order. If you continue, I wil throw you out of the chambers,” warned Speaker Kingi.
In response, Sifuna shouted back at the speaker: “Throw them out first…”
The Speaker then invoked his powers and ordered the Nairobi Senator to leave the House”
“Sifuna kindly leave the chambers now!” the Speaker directed.
A visibly upset Sifuna then rose and walked out of the Chambers as he lamented: “Very disgusting!” Sifuna was heard saying.
Debate then resumed in the House, with the Speaker pronouncing himself on the issue of the dressing by Senator Karen Nyamu.
While citing the House rules, Speaker Kingi directed Nyamu to leave the chambers and only return while appropriately dressed.
