The Senate leadership stalemate has come to an end after Speaker Amason Kingi upheld the minority leadership changes.
Kingi has acknowledged the changes, which include Narok Senator Ledama Olekina replacing Fatuma Dullo as Minority Whip and Edwin Sifuna taking over as Deputy Minority Whip.
“Senator Fatuma Dullo has been validly removed as Senate Minority Whip. Senator Ledama Olekina has been validly elected as Senate Minority whip,” Speaker Kingi ruled.
The decision was made after Nyamira Senator Okong’o Mogeni presented a letter from the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) on Wednesday, giving the Speaker the go-ahead to communicate the Senate’s new minority whip.
The impasse began when Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition senators boycotted plenary sittings for the last three weeks, aiming to paralyse any business brought before the House by President William Ruto’s government until Speaker Kingi recognises the minority side’s leadership changes.
They had accused Kingi of using the stalemate to advance a political agenda.
On February 8, 2023, Dullo was one of 30 Jubilee Party MPs who visited President William Ruto and his deputy at State House.
Members of the Azimio-One Kenya coalition were frustrated, and they chastised the lawmaker for working with the government. On February 15, 2016, 16 senators voted to remove her as minority whip.
However, on February 28, the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) barred the Senate Speaker from issuing a communication to remove Dullo as the minority whip.
