A section of opposition senators aligned to the Linda Mwananchi faction has condemned the removal of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as Senate Deputy Minority Whip, alleging the decision was orchestrated at State House before being implemented through what they described as an unlawful parliamentary process.
The lawmakers claimed Sifuna’s ouster was agreed upon during a meeting between President William Ruto and a section of ODM leaders before being formalised at a hastily convened Azimio parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday evening.
Speaking after Senate Speaker Amason Kingi communicated the leadership changes to the House, the senators accused the Executive of interfering with Parliament’s independence and weakening the opposition.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo alleged that some ODM leaders had openly admitted meeting President Ruto for lunch, where Sifuna’s removal was allegedly agreed.
“They boasted about how they went for lunch with the President and a decision was reached that Sifuna must go,” Maanzo said.
He maintained that the Nairobi senator’s removal was politically motivated and intended to silence dissenting voices within the opposition.
“Removing him as one of the servants of this House only gives him a greater opportunity to serve the nation.
Intimidating and threatening him, as has been happening under President Ruto, will not succeed. Dissent must be respected,” he said.
Maanzo further argued that ODM leaders serving in the broad-based government should relinquish opposition leadership positions in Parliament.
“If ODM has left Azimio and joined the broad-based arrangement, then they should cross over to the government side and allow the remaining Azimio parties and ODM members who remain in the opposition to constitute the minority,” he said.
He claimed Senate Minority Whip Ledama Ole Kina and Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo were occupying their positions unlawfully if they supported the government.
“The capture of Parliament is complete.
Kenyans are saying William Ruto must go,” Maanzo added.
Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu questioned how the parliamentary group meeting that approved the changes was convened, saying members were given inadequate notice.
“I was shocked to see a PG meeting being called at 7.30 p.m.
I asked on the platform what the urgency was and why it could not wait until the following day so that every Azimio member could attend,” she said.
Kavindu described Sifuna’s removal as unlawful, arguing that it would instead strengthen his role within the Linda Mwananchi movement.
She also warned against political interference in Parliament.
“Parliament should have the freedom to lead citizens with liberty and not be controlled from State House,” she said.
Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah termed the leadership changes an attempt to undermine the Senate’s oversight role.
“There is no way the Senate can be captured in such a dramatic manner where the very leadership of the minority side spearheads the killing of the House,” Omtatah said.
“This is an invitation to war, and there must be a fight to ensure the minority side of the Senate remains autonomous from the government.
We cannot be reduced to an appendix of the government.”
Omtatah said the group was preparing legal action to challenge the changes and seek the removal of the newly installed opposition leadership.
“We are planning action that will clarify the law and make sure whatever is happening is arrested.
We must make sure we evict Ole Kina from the seat of the Whip, Madzayo from the minority leadership and Eddy Oketch from the seat he has taken over from Sifuna,” he said.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka warned that growing cooperation between the opposition and the Kenya Kwanza administration risked undermining Kenya’s multiparty democracy.
“By having the opposition voting with the government, we are literally becoming a one-party state,” Onyonka said.
He defended Sifuna, saying the Nairobi senator was being punished for maintaining a firm opposition stance against the government.
“Sifuna is being lynched because he has taken very strong positions. We disagree with President Ruto on many of the things he is doing.
If this country continues in this direction, it becomes a template of what happens in a banana republic, where state resources are used to buy influence,” he said.
The senators insisted Sifuna’s removal was unconstitutional and vowed to challenge the leadership changes through both political and legal avenues, maintaining that the Senate minority leadership must remain independent of the Executive.
Responding to his removal, Sifuna thanked the Senate Minority leadership and members for their support during his tenure and congratulated Migori Senator Eddy Oketch, who was named the new Deputy Minority Whip.
“I thank the leadership and members for the cooperation they have given me during my time as the Deputy Senate Minority Whip.
I congratulate my young brother, Senator Eddy Oketch, on his new role,” Sifuna said.
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