THE STANDARD
NATIONAL
Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka and Isaac Mwaura (R). [Elvis Ogina, Standard]
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka sought to set the record straight on his decision to de-gazette Isaac Mwaura as Nominated Senator.
Dr Lusaka who last week came under fire from a section of senators who faulted his move despite a court order, refraining him from implementing the decision of the Jubilee Party to revoke Mwaura s nomination, yesterday maintained that he acted within the law in declaring a vacancy upon the expulsion of the Nominated Senator.
He told members that there was no court order barring him from declaring the vacancy.
Nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura has lost his seat following a lengthy tussle with the ruling Jubilee Party.
Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka declared the seat vacant through a gazette notice issued on Monday.
The move follows a decision by Jubilee Party to expel him after he was accused of campaigning for a candidate of a different political outfit.
“It is notified for the information of the public that pursuant to Article103 (1) (e) (i) of the Constitution and section 37 of the Elections Act, the seat of the Member of the Senate elected under Article 98 (1) (d) of the Constitution and held by Hon. Isaac Mwaura Maigua became vacant, with effect from the 7th May 2021,” the notice read.
THE STANDARD
NATIONAL
Gazette notice delisted Senator Isaac Mwaura Maigua as a nominated senator with effect from May 7, 2021. [File, Standard]
Senate speaker Kenneth Lusaka has clarified the validity of nominated senator Isaac Mwaura’s vote on The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 unofficially known as the BBI Bill this morning.
The speaker said that article 124 of the constitution states that the proceedings of either House cannot be declared invalid as a result of vacancy in its membership or participation of any person not entitled to participate in the proceedings of the House.
“It is important to note that the publication of this Gazette came to my notice for the first time during the lunch break this afternoon,” Lusaka explained to the senators why the issue was not raised before the voting took place.
THE STANDARD
POLITICS
Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party will appeal the ruling by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) that dismissed its decision to expel six nominated senators allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
Party insiders said the leadership will move to the High Court to challenge the ruling that handed the embattled senators reprieve.
Jubilee Secretary-General (SG) Raphael Tuju said the party will convene its National Management Committee (NMC) meeting on Monday to deliberate on the next action.
Tuju spoke on Thursday after an event where he was awarded for championing women’s rights over the years. The event was organised by Echonet Africa and the Ministry of Public Affairs and Gender.
THE STANDARD
KENYA
Kenya s Deputy President William Ruto. [File, Standard]
Deputy President William Ruto has said he won t resign despite receiving pressure from a section of Government and Opposition leaders. I was elected. I am not going to give those seeking to push me out of this government the opportunity to celebrate. I won t resign, Ruto said during an interview on
Citizen Television on Thursday, April 15.
The DP further stated he was ready to go it alone in the 2022 presidential race, with or without the support of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ruto, however, clarified he won t take offence if Kenyatta does not support him in the upcoming general election.