Murkomen and Kihika officially replaced in Senate

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Nakuru senator Susan Kihika have officially been relinquished of their Senate Majority leader and Majority chief whip positions respectively.

The Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka has announced during today’s senate proceedings, that the positions have officially been filled by West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio as the Senate Majority Leader and Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata taking Kihika’s position as the Majority chief whip. 

“I'm satisfied that the changes were made in accordance with senate standing order 19. 1, 2, 3, 40, 5 and 7 and meets the threshold required under standing order. 19. (5) there having been a majority of votes, changes shall now take effect as follows: Senate Majority Leader Senator Samuel Poghisio, Senate Majority Whip Senator Irungu Kang’ata, and Senate Deputy Majority Chief Whip senator Haji Farhiya, “said Lusaka.

The Senate Speaker also alluded to the fact that 20 senators attended yesterday’s State House meeting that was chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta who is Jubilee Party leader.

“The Minutes show that 20 Senators attended the meeting and resolved unanimously to: Remove the current leader of majority Senator Kipchumba Murkomen in accordance with the standing order 19, 5. 
Remove the current Majority Whip senator Susan Kihika in accordance with Senate, standing order 19, 5.  and elect Senator Samwel Poghisio, as Senate Majority Leader, Elect Senator Irungu Kang'ata as Senate Majority Whip.  Elect senator Haji Farhiya, as senate deputy majority whip, “ added Lusaka

The speaker was responding to a communication from the Jubilee Party on the intended party changes in the leadership of the Senate.

“I have received a communication from Jubilee Coalition…The letter of communication was accompanied with the following documents, Minutes of the Jubilee Parliamentary Group coalition meetings dated May 11, 2020, which is a record of the proceedings of the meeting together with the resolutions to duly signed list all senators who attended the above indicated meeting.

I have also the Post-election coalition agreement between the Jubilee party of Kenya and Kenya African National Union, and a register of political parties’ certificate dated May 8, 2020, “explained Lusaka.

The announcement has now extended cracks in the ruling party after the now, ousted Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen saying he will not relent in the quest to retain his seat.

“I have just started my political life. I believe there will be a brighter future. We will come back and come back big, “Said Murkomen.

The changes come barely a day after the State House changes were made. According to a statement from State House Spokesperson Kanze-Dena Mararo, 20 legislators had attended the meeting.

The statement reads in part: “His Excellency the President today at State House, Nairobi chaired a Jubilee Coalition Parliamentary Group meeting that brought together Senators from Jubilee Party and the Kenya African National Union (KANU).”

“During the meeting, attended by 20 Senators, the Parliamentary Group meeting resolved to strengthen the Coalition's Senate Leadership and elected the following new leader.” 

Later in the evening, Murkomen and Kihika organized a quick rejoinder and also rubbished the changes terming them illegal and unconstitutional.

Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, writing to the Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka protesting her removal as the Senate Majority Whip

“As Jubilee Senators, we did not receive any formal invitation for any meeting with an agenda to discuss the removal of Senate Majority Leader and Senate Majority Whip… We held consultative meetings and would like to inform the Speaker that the requirements of Standing Order 19 that make it mandatory for more than half of Senators to remove a Majority Leader or Majority Whip were not met,” she notes in the letter.


The outspoken Senator also downplayed the meeting saying the National Executive Council did not meet to effect the changes.

“The purported Coalition Agreement was not sanctioned by the relevant party organ that is the National Executive Committee as required under article 32.2 of the Constitution of the party,” she states.

She, maintains that the decision to remove them to be reversed on grounds that it failed to meet the legal bar.
She says: “We, therefore, hold that the leadership of the Majority Party in the Senate remains as it has been until the requirements of the Constitution of Kenya, Standing Orders and Jubilee Party Constitution are all adhered to. All communication on the removal of leaders as provided by Standing Order 19 can only be written by Majority Leader and Majority Whip.”