President Uhuru Kenyatta has made changes to the Jubilee Party Senate Majority Leader and Whip, a move that seems to define the course of events come 2022 elections.
KANU’s West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio has replaced Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen as the Majority leader in the Senate.
Poghisio will be deputized by Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dillo.
Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika has been replaced as Majority Whip by Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata who will be deputized by nominated senator Farhiya Ali.
The new changes come from a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Jubilee Senators on Monday.
Senators Murkomen and Kihika are accused of sabotaging the president’s agenda in his final term.
The meeting was convened against the framework of a post-election coalition deal between the Jubilee Party and KANU, which is deposited at the Registrar of Political parties.
The move will allow KANU to sit in house committees and attend Jubilee’s parliamentary group meetings.
President Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated the new appointees, saying he is looking forward to working with them to deliver service to Kenyans.
“His Excellency the President congratulate the new Jubilee Coalition Senate Leaders and assures them of his support,” read part of a statement from State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena.
The meeting was attended by 20 senators, who resolved to strengthen the coalition’s senate leadership and the elected leaders.
Meanwhile, senators allied to camp Ruto have opposed the move, with Gatundu South MP Moses referring to it as “a shade of the rigging that Jubilee orchestrated in 2013.”
