Drama As Kingi Kicks Cherargei Out Of Senate [VIDEO]

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi cracked the whip on Nandi Senator, Samson Cherargei and proceeded to kick him out of the chambers on Friday, December 30.

The Senate was debating the matter of its special committee dismissing a decision by the Meru County Assembly to impeach embattled governor Kawira Mwangaza in a special sitting where the determination of the matter was made.

Invited for comment, the Senator poked holes in the decision, citing two observations regarding the several issues raised by the Meru MCAs in their impeachment motion and his belief that the senate allowed temporary impunity to continue.

"Two quick observations; one is that many substantive issues were raised the Meru MCAs but fortunately it was clause over. Second, we have today in my own observation legitimised temporary impunity where you go to an office, you have fouled the law and that is it..." he addressed before Kingi cut him short.

Senator Samson Cherargei with Speaker Amason Kingi at the Senate on December 30, 2022. /TWITTER

Kingi served to remind him of the policies he set out for senators to make comments on the floor of the house and with regards to the report, Cherargei is functus officio- a person who has discharged his duty, or whose office or authority is at an end.

"I gave directions on how we are going to make our comments going forward. The report by the committee is a report of the senate. You're a senator and therefore you are functus officio as far as that report is concerned.

"You cannot, therefore, purport to distance yourself from that report and if that is your line of contribution, kindly take your seat," he directed.

Cherargei tried to plead with the Speaker to allow him another chance to make his comment but Speaker Kingi's mind was already made up and as he took his seat, Kingi stood up to threaten to kick him out of the chambers.

"I know you're forcing me to give you a New Year gift, I'll give it to you. I was very clear and the law is very clear on this matter. When the report has been tabled, the matter ends there; whether you have misgivings or not, you don't put them before the House because it is a report of the house," he said, adding that Senator Cherargei cannot criticise his own word.

Kingi reprimanded Cherargei for hitting out at the Senator Boni Khalwale's-led committee set up to investigate Governor Mwangaza following her impeachment by the Meru County Assembly on Wednesday, December 14, demanding an apology from the ally of President William Ruto, or he risked being thrown out of the chambers. 

"Your statement to the effect that “the committee glossed over some issues” is unfortunate and I'm afraid you have to retract and apologize, failure to which I may order you to be out of order and proceed to throw you out," he demanded.

Cherargei however stood firm with his sentiments, firing at Kingi for using the Senate to muzzle a section of his opinions and standing by his initial comments.

"Mr Speaker, with all due respect, you are the umpire of the Senate. The Constitution gives us a right of opinion and expression. We will not use Senate to gag some of our opinions...and I stand by my words because it is an observation. 

"When members were congratulating we didn't have a problem..." he argued, much to the disgruntlement of other Senators in the House.

While Kingi ordered Cherargei to take his seat, the senator was seen arguing with his colleagues before Kingi got back to him saying "you are not in the market, you speak when you have been allowed to speak," before reading the riot act.

Kingi gave Cherargei two more chances to retract his statements, but the senator stuck to his word, forcing the speaker to snap and kick him out.

“I shall order the senator to withdraw immediately from the precincts of Parliament on the first occasion for a maximum of three sitting days. This is your first occasion, I order you to withdraw for the remainder of the day,” ruled Kingi.

The Impeachment Act provides that the house shall not debate or vote on a report by a special committee which absolves a Governor of any charges. While opening the floor of the house for comments by the senators on the report, the Speaker guided the senators from debating the matter saying the matter had rested following the verdict of the committee.

Mwangaza survived her impeachment after Senate resolved that the allegations against her were unsubstantiated.

"After the consideration of charges made against Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, all 11 members of the Special Senate Committee agreed and recommended that none of the charges was proved," Khalwale stated while tabling the report.

Kingi as a result ruled that the senate will not vote or discuss the motion any further, adding that the committee was a creation of the senate and that all senators were represented in making the motion.