Kindiki Speaker post ouster begins as Kang’ata tables motion
The process of removing Senate Deputy Speaker Kindiki Kithure started in earnest yesterday after the newly-elected Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata tabled the motion to eject him from the coveted post over alleged disloyalty to President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The Murang’a Senator, who has become the driver of Uhuru’s warhorse in the Senate, tabled the motion under Article 106 (2) of the Constitution, which provides for election and removal of House Speaker and deputy.
“I beg to move that this House resolves that Senator Kithure Kindiki be removed from the Office of the Deputy Speaker,” reads the notice by Kang’ata.
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According to Section C of the Article, the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall become vacant if the relevant House so resolves by resolution supported by the votes of at least two-thirds of its members.
In his motion which requires at least 45 out of 67 senators, Kang’ata is hoping to benefit from the recently-signed post-election deal between Jubilee Party—which has 34 senators—and Kanu (three) as well as Opposition which have an axe to grind with Deputy President William Ruto.
He said the Tharaka Nithi Senator wronged after he, together with Ruto’s allies refused to attend a meeting called by Uhuru at State House to change House leadership, and also failed to give explanation for skipping.
Kindiki is perceived to be an ally of Ruto and those in his camp believe he is being targeted because of his allegiance to the DP.
His removal comes just a week after that of Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchuma Murkomen as Majority Leader and Nakuru’s Susan Kihika as Majority Whip last week.
Change of loyalty
The move follows the careful change of loyalty to the President’s side by Speaker Ken Lusaka, who was accused of throwing Murkomen and Kihika under the bus.
Observers and leaders argue Kindiki thrust himself in the eye of the political storm by continuing to associate himself with Ruto’s allies who have been accused defying Uhuru’s directives.
Igembe North MP Maoka Maore, an ardent Uhuru ally, said the senator’s continued stance in favour of the DP as shown by his actions had placed him on a collision path with the President.
“Kindiki holds a very sensitive position and from how he has been behaving, including his decisions while presiding the House sessions, shows that he is 100 per cent Tanga Tanga.
If Uhuru was looking for allies to work with, I doubt Kindiki would be one of them,” he said, adding that Kindiki’s ruling against Uhuru’s move to take over key operations of Nairobi County, through the Nairobi Metropolitan Services, could have angered Uhuru.
