Nostalgia as old and new Senators meet 47 years later

By Moses Njagih

NAIROBI; KENYA: Forty-seven years after the abolition of Senate shortly after independence, the country marked a return to a bicameral Parliament with the swearing in of Senators.

It was a great moment as the 47 Senators, alongside 20 nominated members were sworn into office at their first sitting at KICC, where the House will hold temporary sessions pending renovation of Parliament’s Old Chambers.

Fifteen members of the Independence Senate graced the function on invitation of Senate Clerk Jeremiah Nyegenye. They were given preferential treatment as they were allowed to sit inside the Chamber where only elected members and VIPs are let in.

Among pioneer Senators in the House were Omar Abdulahi (Wajir), Philip Lemeyet (Narok), Nathan Munoko (Bungoma), PM Munyasia (Kitui), Julius Muthamia (Meru), William Rotich (Baringo), Ondiek Chilo (Nyanza Central) and Shadrack Nyaga (Embu).?

The life of the country’s first Senate ended in 1966 in controversial circumstances, leaving the National Assembly as the sole law-making organ of the Government. On Thursday, former Internal Security Minister GG Kariuki, a politician whose career was resuscitated by the creation of the new House after spending decades in political oblivion, was the first to take the oath of office.

The Laikipia Senator’s oath at KICC’s amphitheatre kicked off the process of instituting the current Senate as Mr Kariuki led 46 other men and 19 women, who were duly sworn in by Senate Clerk Nyegenye. The new Senate was put into gear for their legislative agenda, which this time will revolve largely on laws for the devolved system.

The new House is representative with the physically disabled ably represented.

After taking oath of office, the Senators began their first business of the day, which was election of the Speaker under the guidance of the clerk.

Electronic system

Sensing that Jubilee Coalition had the numbers to take command of the House, President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy-elect William Ruto walked in in good time to witness the vote. Their arrival in the Chambers stimulated those present, with the Senators notably from his coalition clapping. Bomet’s Charles Keter gave them briefings as members continued to vote.

The vote was conducted manually, though this format will change once the leaders move to their Chambers, which are now being refurbished and fitted with electronic systems.

Despite the apparent tension as the voting continued, the House was treated to some light moments.

At one point, Siaya Senator James Orengo and his Bungoma counterpart Moses Wetangula — key leaders of CORD —walked to where Uhuru and Ruto were seated and engaged in a hearty conversation.

Nairobi Senator Gidion Mbuvi, who had earlier caused a stir as he arrived at KICC in a top-of-the-range Range Rover whose number plate was only indicated as “Super Senator”, caused prolonged laughter taking what appeared as exaggerated bows towards Uhuru and Ruto before and after casting his vote. The first round of the vote, where Jubilee’s candidate Ekwe Ethuro and CORD’s pair of Erick Desailly Omondi and Farah Maalim faced off, counted for nothing as none of them could garner the two-thirds majority required for outright win. In that round, Ethuro led with 35, Maalim 31 while Omondi had one vote, sending the contest to second round where the winner was required to garner a simple majority.

Ethuro carried the day with 38 votes to Maalim’s 29. After the declaration of results, Mbuvi rose to his feet, sarcastically urging the clerk to ensure that the agent of the losing candidate, Mombasa Senator Omar Hassan had signed the documents.