Inside State House meeting that swept away DP Ruto allies

Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen with his Meru counterpart Mithika Linturi at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi yesterday. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The State House meeting that toppled key allies of Deputy President William Ruto lasted 45 minutes and was characterised by unmistakable unanimity of purpose. 

There was no beating around the bush - everything was to the point. No photo moments - heavy business was at hand. No haranguing - a new military general was waiting to be sworn in.

Minutes of the meeting in our possession show 20 Senators were in attendance while three, including the abrasive Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, sent their apologies. President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Jubilee Party leader, chaired the meeting and signed off the minutes.

The meeting had only two points in its agenda, the removal of Senate leadership and the election of a new one. Anything else outside was slotted into “any other business”.

Other than proposing and seconding their colleagues for either a chop or elevation, the Senators present do not appear to have spoken to the agenda or those recording the minutes did not pick them out. But they unanimously endorsed them.

Senator Isaac Mwaura, the self-professed “Muthugu wa Ruiru” opened the meeting with a word of prayer before Secretary General Raphael Tuju took the floor and confirmed there was quorum.

The minutes say the SG confirmed to the meeting that he had invited all Jubilee Senate members and the leadership of the Senate. There is no word in the minutes to suggest the DP was invited although, by virtue of his position as Deputy Party Leader, an assumption can be made he was in the picture.

“Pursuant to demands made by Members of Parliament to the party secretariat on diverse dates for a parliamentary group meeting, this meeting was convened,” the minutes read.

The minutes also quote Tuju as saying that the agenda was proposed by members of parliament themselves.

“Senate leadership was afforded the chance to rebut allegations made against them at the plenary but they chose not to attend.”

When he was invited to address the meeting, President Kenyatta is said to have thanked the Senators present and urged them to unify the country, fight corruption and bring peace to the country.

“The President also stated that he has no anger or ill-feeling against anyone, with his agenda being to transform the country,” they read.

The recording on the agenda on the removal of Senate leadership was as brief as the next agenda on the election of new leadership.

It says the Senators present unanimously resolved to remove both Kipchumba Murkomen and Susan Kihika as Majority Leader and Majority Whip respectively.

“Senator Samuel Poghisio (West Pokot) was proposed as Senate Majority Leader by Senator Mwangi Githiomi (Nyandarua) and seconded by Senator Haji Farhiya (Nominated),” the minutes say.

It says this proposal was unanimously approved by all members and was therefore deemed duly elected pursuant to Senate Standing Order 19(1)(a).

As for the Whip replacement, Senator Irungu was proposed by Senator Ali Abdullahi Ibrahim (Wajir) and seconded by Senator Mwaura.

Senator Farhiya was proposed as Deputy Majority Whip by Senator Halake Soka and was seconded by Senator Beth Mugo. 

“The Senators requested an additional meeting with the President to air out their grievances. The President agreed and stated that he would communicate in due time,” the minutes state in the AOB section.

The minutes say the meeting ended at 10:45am with a prayer from Senator (Dr) Ibrahim.

The minutes and a separate list presented to Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka by ousted Kihika were however at variance with regard to two senators; Uasin Gishu Senator Margaret Kamar and Nominated Senator Milgo Alice Chepkorir.

The two senators are listed as having attended the State House meeting but also appeared in the Kihika list denouncing the ouster. Also contested is the ‘absent with apologies’ status noted for Linturi in the minutes of the State House meeting.

Kamar did not respond to our several calls and text messages to her to explain herself. Linturi was however categorical in dismissing the list sent to the House communicating the changes, terming it as fake.

Sent apologies

“My appearance on the list as having sent apologies to the State House meeting is an indication that actually even the list being circulated is fake. I did not send anyone with an apology to any meeting. I was not even aware that there was such a meeting and wish to disassociate myself with the meeting,” said the Meru senator.

Bomet Senator Christopher Langat said Lusaka, in his judgement, will need to convince the House the State House meeting met requirements of the law and standing orders requiring that a PG meeting be attended by more than half of the Jubilee senators.

“We demand that extensive research must be conducted and be assured that actually the requirements of the laws were met. This is not the end of this matter,” said Langat.

[Additional reporting by Moses Njagi]