Senate Speaker rules on Wetangula ouster as Minority Leader

Senate Speaker rules on Wetangula ouster as Minority Leader

Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka has dismissed a letter from a top NASA official seeking to retain Moses Wetangula as Minority Leader.

He said the letter was not submitted through the office of the Minority Whip as required.

NASA chief executive Norman Magaya had written to the Speaker saying: “I have instructions from the National Super Alliance Summit comprising the NASA principals to inform you that Senator Moses Wetangula remains the duly nominated leader of minority in the Senate by NASA.”

Mr. Wetangula’s service as Minority Leader now ceases with immediate effect and Siaya Senator James Orengo is expected to be sworn in on Tuesday afternoon as his replacement.

The decision to vote out Mr. Wetangula emerged after a NASA Senate Parliamentary Group meeting on Tuesday morning.

The NASA Summit comprises of Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi and Wetangula. Their coalition comprises of 28 senators: 20 from ODM, four from Wiper and three from Amani National Congress (ANC). FORD-Kenya, also a NASA affiliate party, has only one Senator – Mr. Wetangula.

However, Mr Mudavadi on his part said ANC party members who voted for the ouster acted as individuals and not on the party’s behalf.

A call to eject Wetangula as the Senate Minority Leader was first presented to the Senate Speaker on Thursday, March 15.

Twenty out of NASA’s 27 Senators signed in favour of Mr. Wetangula’s ouster, surpassing the required two-thirds majority by two.

The Speaker okayed Mr. Wetangula’s removal though he suspended the move until NASA submits the name of their new Minority Leader.

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raila odinga senate Moses Wetangula Speaker Ken Lusaka NASA summit

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