Speaker Ekwee Ethuro dismisses efforts to disband Senate

Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro, who on Wednesday dismissed ongoing efforts to scrap the House, saying it was a ploy by people who wanted to frustrate senators from performing their roles effectively. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT |

What you need to know:

  • Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria is leading a campaign called Punguza Mzigo that is aimed at amending the Constitution to scrap the Senate and other offices, including woman representatives.
  • However, Mr Ethuro said it was wrong to target young institutions that are yet to properly set foot and that serve to expand the democratic space.
  • Kajiado Senator Peter Mositet said devolution must be protected at all costs, saying it had taken services closer to the people.

Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro on Wednesday dismissed ongoing efforts to scrap the House, saying it was a ploy by people who wanted to frustrate senators from performing their roles effectively.

The Speaker said those behind the move were believers in the old constitutional dispensation who feared change.

Speaking at the Senate when he hosted a delegation from the World Bank led by country director Diariétou Gaye, Mr Ethuro said instead of scrapping the Senate, it should be strengthened so that it plays a greater role in the devolved system of governance.

“We are the new kid on the block. We have been fighting more for survival and it has given us a bit of a challenge. We have soldiers who are fighting on. Change is never easy. People always resist change. We hear people say [the] Senate should be disbanded because they are used to their comfort zones,” said Mr Ethuro.

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria is leading a campaign called Punguza Mzigo that is aimed at amending the Constitution to scrap the Senate and other offices, including woman representatives.

KENYANS 'OVER-REPRESENTED'

According to Mr Kuria, Kenyans are over-represented and have to pay outside their means to sustain their parliamentary representatives. The MP is currently collecting signatures to support the campaign.

However, Mr Ethuro said it was wrong to target young institutions that are yet to properly set foot and that serve to expand the democratic space.

“These structures were here after independence but we destroyed them, but now after 50 years of poverty and bad governance we have tried to rectify these in the current constitutional dispensation.

“It is important that the structures and institutions developed in the new Constitution be given support and time to do their job,” said the Speaker.

Ms Gaye had paid the Speaker a courtesy call and did not speak on the fresh efforts to scrap the House, saying only that they would work to ensure the county assemblies and the Senate were strengthened.

“We always support institutions. Capacity building is important and I can assure you, we will continue supporting you,” she said.

OVERSIGHT ROLE

Senators who accompanied the Speaker supported him, saying the Senate was a key institution that plays a big role in ensuring devolved money was well spent in the counties.

“The work of the Senate is to protect the counties through ensuring that they get enough resources from the national government and then ensure proper use of the allocations. It is important to strengthen the Senate on the oversight role. The House may not have adequate resources to perform its role well.

“Oversight is very important. We do not want corruption at the national level to be devolved to the counties,” said Busia Senator Amos Wako.

Kajiado Senator Peter Mositet said devolution must be protected at all costs, saying it had taken services closer to the people.

“Even though there is some wastage, there are a lot of visible changes on the ground. The common mwanachi will tell you that they are able to get health services. If it is access to clean water they are able to get it at ease,” said Mr Mositet.