Sifuna's removal as Deputy Minority Whip planned at State House meeting - Linda Mwananchi MPs say

The senators claimed Sifuna's ouster was planned during a meeting between President William Ruto and a section of ODM leaders before being formalised during a hastily convened opposition parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday evening.

Speaking at a joint press briefing after Senate Speaker Amason Kingi communicated and the House adopted the leadership changes, the lawmakers accused the government of interfering with the independence of Parliament and weakening the opposition.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo alleged that some leaders had openly boasted about meeting President Ruto for lunch, where Sifuna's removal was allegedly agreed upon.

"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 Sifuna's removal was illegal and politically motivated, arguing that it was aimed at silencing 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, insisting they should vacate office if they support the government.

"The capture of Parliament is complete. Kenyans are saying William Ruto must go," Maanzo added.

Machakos Senator Agnes Kavindu questioned the manner in which the parliamentary group meeting was convened, saying members were given little 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 and said it would instead strengthen his role within the Linda Mwananchi movement.

She also warned against political interference in Parliament, saying legislators should be allowed to discharge their constitutional mandate independently.

"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."

He said the group was planning 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 cooperation between the opposition and the government risked eroding 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 firm opposition positions against the Kenya Kwanza administration.

"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 opposition senators maintained that Sifuna's removal was unconstitutional and vowed to challenge the changes through political and legal avenues, insisting the Senate minority leadership must remain independent of the Executive.

Responding to his removal as Deputy Minority Whip, Sifuna thanked the Minority leadership and members for their support during his tenure and congratulated his successor.

"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.