All eyes were on the Senate in early November during the impeachment hearing of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
The first-term governor, elected on an Independent ticket, was facing the Senate for the second time in less than a year for an impeachment trial.
She faced seven charges including misappropriation and misuse of county resources, nepotism and related unethical practices as well as bullying, vilifying and demeaning other leaders, making illegal appointments and usurping statutory powers.
Mwangaza was first impeached by the Meru County assembly in December last year, three months into her term.
However, the resolution of the assembly was overturned by the Senate in December 2022.
Armed with eight lawyers and four witnesses, Mwangaza pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Mwangaza survived the second impeachment after senators acquitted her of all seven charges brought up against her by the county assembly.
The Senate plenary went late into the night on November 8 and dismissed all the charges in a vote, giving her a new lease of life.
“The result of the division indicates the Senate has not upheld any of the charges. Therefore, the Senate has failed to remove the governor by impeachment. The governor accordingly continues to hold office,” Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said.
Mwangaza had appealed to the senators to spare her from impeachment, saying her troubles were a witchhunt. She expressed her hope to unite all Meru leaders.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga is said to have called Opposition senators and implored them to save Mwangaza. He reportedly termed the grounds for impeachment as “flimsy and political machinations.”
Senator gets six months for unsubstantiated claims
In September, Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba was suspended from the Senate and Parliament precincts for six months.
It followed the adoption of a report by the Powers and Privileges Committee of the Senate which decided to suspend Orwoba after she failed to appear before it to defend herself against charges levelled against her.
Orwoba was accused of making unsubstantiated allegations of sexual harassment by some parliamentary officials.
She was also accused of alleging that there was discrimination in Parliament by posting various messages on the Senate Business WhatsApp group.
Orwoba was summoned to the Powers and Privileges Committee, but according to the report, she failed to appear and defend herself.
“Having accorded Senator Gloria Orwoba an opportunity to be heard, the senator declined to participate in the inquiry by the committee on Powers and Privileges and hence the committee found the charges to stand,’’ the report stated.
“The committee considered the evidence before it on this charge and given that there was no evidence to the contrary to refute the charge, the charge was therefore confirmed."
The committee thus recommended the controversial nominated Senator be suspended for 6 months from the Senate and Parliament precincts.
“Under section 17(3) g, of the Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Act 2017, the senator is to be suspended from the house for the remainder of the second session of the thirteenth parliament,” the report stated.
The senator was also barred from accessing precincts of parliament, and the use or enjoyment of any specific facility provided to members for the period that she will be suspended.
She will be required to apologise before all the senators at the bar before being allowed back in the Senate at the end of her suspension.
Purge in Senate over royalty
During the year, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party made a raft of new changes in the Senate, starting by de-whipping Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo.
Dullo was removed as the Senate Minority Whip and replaced by outspoken Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina, who had been serving as the Deputy Minority Whip.
The changes saw Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna handed the Deputy Minority Whip position which became vacant after Ole Kina’s elevation.
Dullo was axed from the position over what the coalition termed as her disloyalty to the political outfit after she visited State House.
The senator was among 30 Jubilee legislators who reportedly pledged to work with President William Ruto's government during the said meeting.
The Shakahola tragedy
Kenyans also closely followed proceedings of the Senate Committee on the proliferation of religious organisations which probed the deaths of followers of controversial preacher Paul Mackenzie in Shakahola, Kilifi.
In its report, the Danson Mungatana-led committee recommended disciplinary action against 11 security officers on allegations of involvement in the cult tragedy that led to the deaths of more than 400 people.
The committee advised that the DCI and the Department of Immigration investigate to deportation of any persons affiliated with a religious grouping known as Jesus Christians or A Voice in the Desert, linked to Dave and Sherry Mackay, who are believed to be behind the setting up the Good News International Ministry led by Mackenzie.
The committee recommended the immediate deregistration of the Good News International Ministry, and have it declared an organised crime syndicate.
The State was asked to freeze the assets registered to Mackenzie and his associates, and that the proceeds be used to compensate families of deceased victims.
Mackenzie and 27 co-accused persons have been in police custody since April.
The horrific happenings at the Shakahola forest were brought to the public's attention after tens of shallow graves were discovered in the expansive forest within Kilifi County.