• In the morning, Kingi waited more than 30 minutes for the lawmakers to start the session in which Education CS Ezekiel Machogu was scheduled to appear.
• The script was the same in the afternoon session where Kingi waited more than 40 minutes for members to make their way into the debating chamber.
Image: AMASON KINGI/TWITTER
Senators on Wednesday kept off plenary sittings, paralysing business of the House amid nationwide Azimio-backed protests.
Speaker Amason Kingi was forced to adjourn both the morning and afternoon sittings after waiting for several minutes for requisite number of senators to start the House Business.
In the morning, Kingi waited more than 30 minutes for the lawmakers to start the session in which Education CS Ezekiel Machogu was scheduled to appear.
“Hon Senators, there being no quorum and having rang the bell pursuant to Standing Order 40 (2), the Senate stands adjourned until today, Wednesday 19 July, 2023 at 2.30pm,” Kingi said.
The House rules requires that at least 15 out of the 67 members must be present at the start of a plenary sitting.
The morning session was scheduled to begin at 9.30am but by 10.15 am, only a handful of members were in the chamber.
Less than 10 senators from the majority wing (Kenya Kwanza) were in the chamber by the time the Speaker adjourned the sitting.
They include senators Samson Cherargei (Nandi), Veronica Maina (nominated), Alexander Mundigi (Embu), Abass Mohamed (Wajir), Hillary Sigei (Bomet) and Danson Mungatana (Tana River).
Only one senator – Fatuma Dullo – from the opposition wing was in the chamber.
The script was the same in the afternoon session where Kingi waited more than 40 minutes for members to make their way into the debating chamber.
The Speaker ordered the serjeant-at-arms to ring the quorum bell, but still the House failed to realise the required quorum.
While the opposition senators were expected to take part in the protests, it was not clear why Kenya Kwanza senators kept off the sitting.
The government-leaning senators were expected to show up, especially in the morning when CS Machogu was expected to answer questions on the floor.
Some Kenya Kwanza senators led by Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot accompanied the President to Kericho where he went to launch projects.
On Tuesday evening, the Kenya Kwanza senators severely criticised the protests called by the opposition over the high cost of living and electoral forms.
At some point, the debate degenerated into heated exchanges as the two camps took on each other over the demos.
“It is very unfortunate that as a country, one person continues to hold the country hostage because of being power hungry,” Cherargei, an ally of President William Ruto, said.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang' (ODM) said, “There are people in this country who wish to rule like Moi did, unfortunately they cannot rule like Moi because they don't have the Constitution that Moi had.”
CS Machogu was expected to answer eight questions from five Kenya Kwanza senators on matters education.
He was expected to among others, provide an update on the status of the delocalisation programme, that entails the transfer of teachers from their native place of birth to another locality.
“What are the reasons for the delayed reversal of the delocalisation policy by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), following TSC’s commitment to do so in January 2023?” the question by Cherargei reads.
Machogu was also expected to state the total number of teachers from Nandi county awaiting the reversal.
The opposition senators have not been attending the CSs’ question time in the chamber after they challenged in court the legality of their appearance.