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Tag: Amason Kingi

  • Senator Omtatah seeks to cross examine Speaker Kingi on Finance Bill Affidavit

    Senator Omtatah seeks to cross examine Speaker Kingi on Finance Bill Affidavit

    Busia County Senator Okiya Omtatah has filed an application seeking to cross examine Senate Speaker Amason Kingi over his affidavit on Finance Act 2023.

    The Senator argues that Kingi’s affidavit contains allegations that are based on imagination.

    “The petitioners intend to cross-examine Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi, EGH, the Speaker of the Senate, to expose the errors, falsehoods, contradictions and improbabilities in his affidavit sworn on 1st July 2023,” reads court documents

    According to Omtatah, it is crucial to cross examine the evidence by Kingi in order to make an informed decision on the petition.

    The Senator argues that the letter by the speaker does not negate the constitutional requirement for concurrence by the two Houses of Parliament on Bills, including whether they affect counties and their governments.

    Omtatah further claims that the letter by Kingi raises questions as to whether it is secretive and solely at the discretion of the two Speakers and at what point it is considered that the two Houses have concurred.

    “Among the evidence the petitioners presented was a legally very sound letter from the Rt. Hon. Amason Jeffah Kingi, EGH, the Speaker of the Senate, expressing the Senate’s and his concern that the Bill had not undergone the mandatory concurrence of the two Speakers of Parliament as required by Article 110(3) of the Constitution,” reads court document.

    In his affidavit, Kingi claims that the letter cited by Omtatah was sent in error adding that the conservatory orders issued by the court suspending the Finance Act 2023 is against public interest.

    According to the speaker the government stands or suffer grave prejudice for the revenue lost in uncollected taxes owing to the suspension of the implementation of the Finance ACT 2023.

    Last week, the court temporarily suspended the operationalization of the Finance Act 2023 pending a case filed in court by Omtatah.

    The case is set to be mentioned on Wednesday for further directions.

     

  • A section of opposition senators stage walkout protesting CS Kuria’s presence in the house

    A section of opposition senators stage walkout protesting CS Kuria’s presence in the house

    House business was temporarily disrupted on Wednesday morning as a section of opposition senators staged a walkout protesting the dismissal of a motion seeking to block Investment, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria from addressing Senate.

    Trouble started when Senate Speaker Amason Kingi ruled Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna out of order after seeking a clarification on whether allowing Kuria to appear before the house pending a motion of censure against him amounted to an opportunity to sanitize himself from accusations of abuse of office.

    “I take great exception to the presence to somebody the subject of such of a motion in this hallowed house.  My fear is that the CS is going to use this privilege of a appearance before the senate to cleanse himself. “ Claimed Sifuna.

    The opposition n senators would stage a walkout soon after Kuria was given the green light to address the house.

    According to Sifuna, a person subject to a motion of censure should not be given an opportunity to appear before the house before the matter is dispensed with.

    “Honorable speaker, I wanted some clarification of guidance from the chair on standing order number one. Mr. speaker by way of information, the person listed to appear before the senate this morning is the subject of a censure motion that I filed on this senate on the 19th of June 2023.” Asked Sifuna.

    Senate majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot accused the opposition of lacking goodwill in their attempt to block the CS from answering to questions from senators.

    “What is the justification Mr. Speaker of someone who has never shown any interest whatsoever in this process that has been happening. But today they want to stop some of us who want to keep holding the executive into account.” Argued Cheruiyot.

    In his direction, the speaker ruled that he was not aware of the said censure motion and as such, it cannot be a subject of discussion on the floor of the house.

    “Before moving a motion, a senator must file a notice of motion and before you move that notice of motion, the first thing you do is to take a copy of the proposed motion to the office of the clerk. Thereafter, the clerk wills submit that proposed motion to the office of the speaker. The speaker can either admit or dismiss the motion.” Observed the speaker.