Azimio Coalition Walks Out as Trade CS Appears in Senate
The Azimio la Umoja coalition left the Senate on Wednesday, June 21, after Trade CS Moses Kuria was permitted to address the House.
During Senate Proceedings, the senators of Azimio la Umoja were dissatisfied when Senate Speaker Amason Kingi permitted Kuria to only respond to predetermined questions regarding his docket.
According to the senators, the House lacked quorum in violation of Standing Order 41; therefore, the House could not conduct business.
The Speaker also denied Trade CS Kuria’s request to be questioned about media attacks and the edible oils scandal.
This occurred after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna filed a motion of censure against the CS in response to his comments against the media.
“I have filed a motion in the Senate to discuss Moses Kuria’s conduct because the First Amendment, which protects press freedom, must be upheld. “A person in such a position should not be permitted to make comments that cannot even be made in front of children,” Sifuna stated.
ALSO READ: Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria Proposes Edible Oil Duty Removal Amid Opposition Pressure
Speaker Kingi remarked, however, that the Senate proceedings would continue as planned with the predetermined questions.
“Having not seen the motion proposed by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, it cannot be discussed on the House floor today.”
“Even if the proposed motion was submitted to the Speaker’s Office, it may not have been admissible. We are therefore anticipating debates in violation of Standing Order 99,” stated Kingi.
Minutes after the directive was issued, the Azimio team led by Sifuna exited while berating the speaker.
Some of the questions posed to the CS concerned the nature and quantity of goods imported by Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC)-prequalified companies.
CS Kuria alluded to this by noting that 22 suppliers were permitted to import four types of goods: fertilizers, rice, beans, and cooking oil.
He added that KNTC conducted a rigorous procedure to identify and prequalify companies that import the goods.
Azimio Coalition Walks Out as Trade CS Appears in Senate
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