Speaker Ekwe Ethuro declares Makueni Senate seat vacant

Speaker Ekwe Ethuro has declared the Makueni Senate seat vacant.

Mr Ethuro has issued writs following the death of Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo three weeks ago.

The Speaker said he had informed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of the declaration.

The IEBC is expected to announce a date when Makueni County voters will go to the polls to elect Mr Kilonzo's successor.

“I sent the letter to the electoral body on May 13 and now it is upon them to pick a date when the election will be done,” Mr Ethuro said.

In case of a vacancy in the senate, the Speaker is expected to declare the seat vacant before the electoral body proceeds with the preparation for a mini poll in the affected county.

Mr Ethuro said he expected IEBC to fast-track the process.

“IEBC should now be at liberty to proceed with their preparations for the poll. I hope IEBC will act promptly to ensure the people of Makueni get a replacement soon,” Mr Ethuro said.

IEBC Head of Communication and Corporate Affairs Tabitha Mutemi confirmed receiving the letter and said the commission will sit and come up with a date for the by-election.

“The commission will now sit and come up with a date. We will communicate to you when we arrive at that date,” she said on the phone.

Mr Ethuro said senators from the neighbouring counties—Machakos and Kitui—will, in the meantime, represent residents of Makueni.

Mr Kilonzo was found dead at his Maanzoni ranch on April 27.

Police are yet to release the results of their investigation and government and private of pathologists that carried an autopsy on the senator’s body said it would take 8-10 weeks for the results to be known.

Mr Ethuro was speaking after a meeting with United States ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec at his office where the two agreed to work closely to strengthen the new Senate as it sets out to discharge its duties.

The Speaker said they discussed ways to empower the Senate in a bid to ensure devolution was realised soon.

“The two countries have worked closely in the past and the ambassador visited the Senate to extend their support to us."