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Deputy President William Ruto has mourned Kikuyu Benga musician Walter Githinji, popularly known as Jimmy Wayuni, who passed away from a grisly road accident that happened on Tuesday night.

The second in command has described the late musician as a diligent, prolific, creative and talented musician with a melodious voice that made his songs such as Airítu a Ruiru, Mama Sululu, Wayuni Útúire Uhenagia, among others, outstanding.

Popular benga musician dies in grisly road accident along Thika ...
The late Jimmy Wayuni. PHOTO/COURTESY

“Walter Githinji “Jimmy Wayuni” was a diligent, prolific, creative and talented musician with a melodious voice that made his songs such as Airítu a Ruiru, Mama Sululu, Wayuni Útúire Uhenagia, among others, outstanding,” reads part of his post.

The DP further notes that through his numbers, Jimmy Wayuni advocated for social justice, condemned bad governance, glorified good leadership and worked towards bringing people together.

“Through his numbers, Jimmy Wayuni advocated for social justice, condemned bad governance, glorified good leadership and worked towards bringing people together. We will miss his humility, resilience and focus,” Ruto tweeted.

The celebrated musician died after his car rammed into a lorry at Kahawa Sukari near Githurai 45, as he headed to Nairobi from Ruiru, Kiambu County.

Wayuni, a retired Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) deputy commissioner was going to drop off a fellow musician when the fatal crash occurred.

His friend, Jacksam Kibandi, survived the crash and is in hospital.

Besides music, the retired taxman also had an interest in filmmaking, having acted in several home-grown movies.

He is not however, the first Kikuyu Benga musician to perish in a car crash. Last August, another Kikuyu Benga musician John Demathew also perished in a crash involving his car and a lorry near Thika town.

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The newly installed Senate majority whip Senator Irungu Kang’ata, has announced new changes in the ruling Jubilee party, as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s purge continues.

The new changes will see Deputy President Dr William Ruto’s allies removed from the leadership of key committees and being replaced by perceived party loyalists.

In the changes, Senator Christopher Lang’at (Bomet)has been replaced at the House Business Committee by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.

Lang’at also lost his post as Education Committee chairman to Senator Alice Milgo.

Vocal Ruto ally Senator Samson Cherargei (Nandi) was also removed as chairman of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.

Meru Senator Linturi Mithika also lost his membership at the powerful Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee.

Linturi has been replaced by Senator Fatuma Dullo.

John Kinyua will also lose his position as the chairman of the Devolution Committee in the Tuesday changes.

Former Senate majority leader Kipchumba Murkomen will now be a member of the Devolution Committee.

The changes according to Kang’ata have been communicated to the Senate speaker Ken Lusaka for immediate implementation.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has yet again convened another top Jubilee party meeting.

The head of state is set to meet with Jubilee’s key decision-making panel, the National Management Committee.

According to a local daily, President Kenyatta will chair the NMC meeting on Thursday at State House. Members of the parliamentary leadership have been invited.

The meeting is a precursor to a Parliamentary Group Meeting to be held on June 2, when the National Assembly reconvenes from a one-month recess.

This will be the first NMC meeting since President Kenyatta seized control of Jubilee Party from Ruto’s grip after a successful ‘coup’ last month.

Ruto on Thursday last week lost his case before the Political Parties Disputes  Tribunal where he was challenging reconstitution of the NMC.

It is not clear if the DP and his allies would attend the crucial meeting on Thursday to endorse sweeping changes to the National Assembly leadership and approve the President’s working relationship with the opposition.

On Monday Jubilee Party secretary-general Raphael Tuju confirmed the President had called for the meeting, which he termed “critical” to the party’s ongoing housecleaning.

Tuju confirmed the ongoing purge in Parliament targeting members considered disloyal to the President would continue until the Jubilee house is in order.

National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale, Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali and Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang’ata, as well as Senate Majority leader  Samuel Poghisio, are among those expected to attend.

NMC members include chairman Nelson Dzuya, Tuju and five newly appointed members.

They are Lucy Macharia, Marete Marangu, Walter Nyambati, Jane Nampaso and James Waweru.

Ruto’s ally Albert Mutai, who is the Jubilee national treasurer, is also a member of the NMC by virtue of his position.

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A vocal Deputy President William Ruto allied MP has come out to claim that senators who voted to oust Tharaka Nithi senator Kithure Kindiki as senate deputy speaker, were paid.

According to Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, the senators met at Serena Hotel, where they were given ksh. 100,000 each. He says they were promised to be given the remaining Ksh. 100,000 after their voting.

The vocal Tanga Tanga MP further claims that the entire process in which Prof Kindiki was kicked out was corrupted. He says the senate speaker ignored the voting procedure, where the senators use a special voting system to cast votes, and opted for verbal voting.

According to Ngunjiri, the senators who voted yes rushed quickly after the process, to pick their remaining balance that they had been promised.

He further accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of bringing in their political enemy, the ODM party leader Raila Odinga, to cause troubles in the ruling party. Ngunjiri says that it is President Kenyatta who taught them how to abuse Raila at the time he was fully in opposition.

Kindiki was on Friday last week ousted after a heated debate.

Out of the total 67 senators, 54 voted to kick out the deputy speaker who they accused of party disloyalty and disrespect to the party leader.

At least 26 of senators from the minority side voted in favour of his removal. Only two, Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula and Nominated Judith Pareno did not cast their votes because they were not in the House.

However, Mr Wetangula, who is on a mandatory quarantine after his brother died of Covid19, expressed his support for the removal in a message to Minority leader James Orengo.

Seven senators voted to save Prof Kindiki, a far cry from the tussle of numbers that the pro-Ruto allies have always touted. They were Kipchumba Murkomen, Aaron Cheruiyot, Christopher Langat, Susan Kihika, John Kinyua, Samson Cherargey and Kindiki himself.

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Deputy President William Ruto has broken his silence on Kikuyu Constituency poisonous food puzzle.

The second in command on Monday May 25 denied his involvement in distributing the harmful food to unsuspecting residents.

Through his communication person David Mugonyi, the DP says that dragging his foundation in the harmful incident is just but a political thuggery.

“Reports from locals indicate that the strange food donations in question were hurriedly thrown from moving vehicles to unsuspecting public with fake branding, that is not from the Foundation.

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“The William Ruto Foundation has been donating food in Nairobi and its environs for months now without any incident. It is clear those behind the distribution of the contaminated food are engaging in political thuggery for other reasons,” reads the statement in part.

The DP said it’s evil for his foes to endanger lives of Kenyans while trying to stop him politically.

“We sympathize with those who have been affected and pray for their speedy and full recovery. We shall follow up with the local leadership to assist them with medical care as is appropriate in consultation with Health officials,” he added.

“It is revolting, despicable, callous and cruel to play with the health and lives of innocent human beings to score political points. Human life and dignity are higher than any political agenda. Those behind this incident are irresponsible, barbaric savages who have no place in civilized society.”

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah had earlier on argued that someone is out there to tarnish DP Ruto’s name. He claimed that there is some evil person who want to poison Kikuyu residents in the name of fighting him and DP Ruto.

He argued that there is a white landcruiser that has been moving in his constituency distributing the said food. The food stuffs are said to have been distributed in Gikambura area.

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As Covid-19 pandemic continues to bite more, Deputy President William Ruto has been distributing food among vulnerable families to cushion them from the effects of the pandemic.

Over the past weeks, the second in command alongside Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah rolled out a programme that has seen thousands of Kikuyu constituency residents receive food donations.

The food donations are being distributed in carrier bags branded William Ruto Foundation and Kimani Ichung’wah.

However, there have been speculations that the donated food has affected several people, with some reports on social media indicating that the leaders have been distributing expired food that is not fit for human consumption.

“Several people have been affected in Kikuyu after eating relief food branded Ruto Foundation and Ichungwah; the MP has distanced himself from the food. They distribute rotten food but distance themselves,” popular blogger Abraham Mutai tweeted on Monday May 25, 2020.

However, the Kikuyu MP has come out to set the record clear.

Ichung’wah took to his social media pages to address the claims, arguing that someone is out there to tarnish DP Ruto’s name. He claims that there is some evil person who want to poison Kikuyu residents in the name of fighting him and DP Ruto.

He argued that there is a white landcruiser that has been moving in his constituency distributing the said food. The food stuffs are said to have been distributed in Gikambura area.

He says the food stuffs are not similar to the ones they have been distributing, citing that they have not been distributing anything openly on vehicles, on roads or stadiums.

According to Ichung’wah, DP Ruto’s donations are done through Known church leaders and from an identified list of beneficiaries identified by religious and Community leaders.

” IMPORTANT and URGENT.I have just been informed there was a white landcruiser at around 6PM distributing these food stuffs in Gikambura.

“These are NOT our food stuffs and we are not distributing anything openly and on vehicles on roads or stadiums and even the FAKE branding and items are NOT anything close to what we are distributing.All our interventions are done through your Known church leaders and from an identified list of beneficiaries identified by religious and Community leaders.

“Pls be cautious as EVIL people who are distributing these may poison people for politics! A family that consumed the sugar suspect it was poisonous as two of them have been treated after consuming it .Inform all your neighbors. Any support from our office will be delivered to your houses by your known neighbours and church leaders. To the EVIL CABAL, Shetani ashindwe! Why don’t you feed the hungry? Why poison people in the name of fighting us ? reads his post on Facebook.

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Deputy President Dr William Ruto on Wednesday May 20, 2020 got back to work, kicking of his usual inspection of government development projects.

The second in command distributed food to families in Nachu, and inspected the construction of Marengeta Dam, Kikuyu, Kiambu County.

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Taking to his official twitter handle Wednesday evening, Ruto said that the country is committed to ensuring that vulnerable Kenyans are supported during this tough period of the Covid-19 crisis, besides coming up with broad plans that will facilitate the country’s rapid recovery from the disease.

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“We are committed to ensuring that vulnerable Kenyans are supported during this tough period of the COVID-19 crisis besides coming up with broad plans that will facilitate the country’s rapid recovery from the disease,” he tweeted.

He noted that 600 families in Nachu Ward were part of the wider 3,600 households that benefited from his food distribution, to shield Kenyans from adverse effects of the virus outbreak.

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DP Ruto said that the government is also investing in various infrastructural projects such as the construction of the Marengeta Dam, which is part of dams that will benefit more than 120,000 households countrywide.

“We are also investing in various infrastructural projects such as the construction of the Marengeta Dam, which is part of dams that will benefit more than 120,000 households countrywide,” he tweeted.

The DP has been seen as an isolated man in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government, since the head of state shook hands with ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

Although Deputy President William Ruto’s supporters blame the media for casting unfair attention on him, the real pressure according to the them, is coming from powerful people in the Jubilee Party who have been mobilised to derail his chances of becoming president.

The head of state recently launched a purge in Jubilee, that is targeting DP Ruto’s allies. This saw Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen and his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika lose their posts in the senate as senate majority leader and majority whip respectively.

The purge at the senate is yet again set to see senate deputy speaker Prof Kithure Kindiki lose his post, with 51 senators having already signed an ouster motion tabled by the now senate majority whip Irungu Kang’ata.

Some of the DP’s allies have claimed that the changes in parliament are being done so that Ruto can be easily impeached. In the meantime, President Kenyatta has brought KANU’s Gideon Moi on board through a Jubilee-KANU post poll coalition.

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A vocal Tanga Tanga MP has finally opened up on why Deputy President Dr William Ruto has been silent when President Uhuru Kenyatta continues to dewhip his close allies.

The Kimilili Constituency MP Didmus Barasa has this morning taken to social media to answer the question many Kenyans have been asking.

According to the lawmaker, Tanga Tanga as a team operate on a philosophy of never and or not interrupting their enemies when they are making mistakes, and that they get more use from their enemies than from their friends.

The MP went ahead to reveal that Ruto’s camp is studying their enemy’s strength, weakness and intentions, which Tanga Tanga will use to inform their next point of action.

“People have been asking why @WilliamsRuto is silent when his allies are being clipped . As a team we operate on a philosophy of never and or not interrupting our enemies when they are making mistakes and that we get more use from our enemies than from our friends. We are studying their strength, weakness and intentions to inform our next point of action. We are not boarding,” he posted.

DP Ruto’s close allies, the Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen and his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika were recently removed from their senate posts, as Senate Majority leader and Majority Whip respectively.

Murkomen’s position was then filled by KANU’s Samuel Poghisio, with Kihika having her position filled by Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata.

Days later, Ruto-allied nominated senators received letters from Jubilee, demanding them to explain why they snubbed President Kenyatta’s Parliamentary Group meeting at State House.

Their are other looming changes targeting DP Ruto’s allies in the National Assembly, but the DP is still mum on the issue.

Ruto on Monday May 18 however, broke his silence through the Standard newspaper. The DP while replying to his political enemies said, “I will not be provoked into a fight with President Uhuru Kenyatta,” and asked his supporters not to play into the hands of their rivals.

Reportedly, the DP further went ahead and said, “In war, you don’t show your enemies all the arsenal; you will lose. You must retreat and study how far they can go and strategize on how to counter.”

Unlike him, Dr Ruto has publicly avoided commenting on the coup staged during a Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting chaired by President Kenyatta, the party leader.

The deputy party leader snubbed the meeting, held at State House last Monday, and has reportedly advised his allies to avoid any confrontation with the president.

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Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has revealed an alleged plan to kick out Deputy President William Ruto.

According to the controversial lawmaker, the owners of the ruling Jubilee party have initiated a secret plot to impeach the second in command once they are done dealing with his allies.

Through his official facebook page on Sunday May 17, 2020, Moses Kuria said that the new Majority whip, the Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata as already received instructions to initiate the removal of Prof Kithure Kindiki as Deputy Speaker in the Senate.

According to Moses Kuria, Kindiki will be removed so as to pave way for impeachment of DP Ruto.

“The Jubilee Party Owner Occupier has given express instruction to Sen Irungu Kangata to initiate the removal of Prof Kithure Kindiki as Deputy Speaker in the Senate so as to pave way for impeachment of William Ruto. Like Job we refuse to give up on our Living God. We shall overcome. God will not forsake the righteous to appease the evil,” he posted.

The DP has hence remained silent on the changes that have been happening in Jubilee, but Kimilili Constituency MP Didmus Barasa has this morning taken to social media to answer the question many Kenyans have been asking.

According to the lawmaker, Tanga Tanga as a team operate on a philosophy of never and or not interrupting their enemies when they are making mistakes, and that they get more use from their enemies than from their friends.

The MP went ahead to reveal that Ruto’s camp is studying their enemy’s strength, weakness and intentions, which Tanga Tanga will use to inform their next point of action.

“People have been asking why @WilliamsRuto is silent when his allies are being clipped . As a team we operate on a philosophy of never and or not interrupting our enemies when they are making mistakes and that we get more use from our enemies than from our friends. We are studying their strength, weakness and intentions to inform our next point of action. We are not boarding,” he posted.

DP Ruto’s close allies, the Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen and his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika were recently removed from their senate posts, as Senate Majority leader and Majority Whip respectively.

Murkomen’s position was then filled by KANU’s Samuel Poghisio, with Kihika having her position filled by Murang’a senator Irungu Kang’ata.

Days later, Ruto-allied nominated senators received letters from Jubilee, demanding them to explain why they snubbed President Kenyatta’s Parliamentary Group meeting at State House.

Their are other looming changes targeting DP Ruto’s allies in the National Assembly, but the DP is still mum on the issue. 

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party Director of Elections and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed has savagely responded to Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi, after he made weird demands from President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ahmednasir, who has been representing Deputy President William Ruto in a Weston Hotel land case, Thursday morning demanded President Kenyatta to address the nation and declare that he was not supporting DP Ruto anymore.

The lawyer further demanded the head of state to to say that he was wishing his deputy a bad luck, and to declare that he would fight his deputy tooth and nail to completely finish him.

“For his credibility/authority and even HONESTY, H.E UHURU must address the NATION and officially announce that he has parted ways with his deputy, that he isn’t supporting him for 2022, that he wishes him BAD LUCK, will fight him TOOTH and NAIL and will FINISH him KABISA. such a public declaration will greatly enhance H.E UHURU’S standing, credibility/stature. I think it is BENEATH Uhuru to fight his deputy by stealth or through EXPIRED wazees like Atwoli.Kenyans can appreciate such a bold and MANLY action and even support it,” reads part of Ahmednasir’s post.

Responding to the lawyer’s demands, Junet said that Ahmednasir will have to wait until the world ends or until he stops going to court, but his demands will never happen.

According to Junet, Ahmednasir’s demands only happens when somali people steal camels from each other.

“SC that you will wait until the world ends or you stop going to court.. what you are asking for only happens when SOMALIS steal CAMELS from each other,” Junet fired back.

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Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has been playing a key role behind the scenes in kicking out Deputy President William Ruto’s key allies from senate leadership.

Details have emerged that President Uhuru Kenyatta in consultation with several people including Raila, removed Kipchumba Murkomen as Leader of Majority in the Senate and Susan Kihika as Majority Whip.

Before that, Uhuru and Raila senators ganged up to impeach former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu who is aligned to the DP’s camp.

Reports indicate that Raila was in consultation with Uhuru before Kanu and Jubilee signed a post-election coalition agreement which has now been challenged at the Political Parties Tribunal.

 “Raila and the President are working closely in the spirit of the handshake,” said Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe

President Kenyatta is also planning further changes including a major Cabinet reshuffle that could see Raila’s party join the government.

The President could also remove Ruto’s allies from House committees and parastatals.

In return for his support, Raila’s team wants a major stake in the new government, according to multiple sources.

“Raila and Uhuru need each other but Uhuru now needs Raila more than Raila needs him,” former Cabinet minister Franklin Bett was quoted by a local daily.

Sources said Uhuru had requested Raila, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi to submit two names each of individuals they wanted to be named to the Cabinet.

However, Raila is said to be pushing for the consideration of parliamentary strength of each political party at the negotiating table.

In addition, the ODM leader is said to have asked for a huge stake in the control of parastatals.

He also wants ODM to take charge of a new office to be domiciled in the Office of the President that would be in charge of economic recovery.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta seems to be not yet done with fumigating the Senate. After successfully kicking out Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and his Nakuru Counterpart Susan Kihika from Senate leadership, the head of State is now targeting several other Deputy President William Ruto’s allies.

According to multiple reports, President Kenyatta’s lieutenants are targeting five nominated senators allied to DP Ruto in another round of shake-up that could see them lose their seats.

Uhuru’s allies say they will invoke the Political Parties Act, the Jubilee constitution and the Elections Act to replace the defiant nominated senators who are said to proclaim their loyalty to Ruto.

Jubilee has 10 nominated senators but the purge targets five, among them Millicent Omanga, Christine Zawadi, Mary Seneta, Falhada Dekow and Alice Milgo.

Those to be spared are Isaac Mwaura, Beth Mugo, Naomi Jillo Waqo and Farhiya Ali Haji and Halakhe Abshiro.

Show-cause letters have been sent to the targetted senators and they are expected to face a disciplinary committee as early as next week.

The Political Parties Act provides that a member may only be expelled from the party if the member has infringed the constitution of the party.

According to Section 14(7) of the Act, the said member must be afforded a fair hearing in accordance with the internal party disputes resolution mechanisms as prescribed in the constitution of the party.

Uhuru’s lieutenants believe that by undermining the President, who is the party leader, the rebels have acted in breach of the party’s supreme document.

“Undermining the President, who is the Jubilee Party leader, constitutes an offence against the code of conduct,” said Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe, citing  Article 16 of the Jubilee constitution.

The Article reads, “All members of the Party shall conduct themselves with the highest standard of personal integrity and honour and shall not involve themselves in dishonourable conduct.”

Failure to comply with the party’s code of conduct shall constitute a disciplinary offence that can lead to expulsion, according to the party constitution.

The decision of the disciplinary committee must be endorsed by the National Executive Committee. The National Management Committee, which is working on behalf of NEC, is under Uhuru’s control, spelling doom for the senators.

Once expelled from the party and the Registrar of Political Parties confirms the deregistration, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission would be compelled to replace them.

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ODM chairman John Mbadi has revealed the fate of Raila Odinga led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party in the wake of a merger between President Kenyatta’s Jubilee and Gideon Moi’s KANU through a post-poll coalition.

Speaking to one of the leading TV stations Monday morning, Mbadi ruled out the possibility that the Jubilee-KANU coalition will negatively affect the close relationship between President Kenyatta and the ODM party leader.

According to Mbadi, the merger will instead strengthen the handshake which brought together the two leaders after the divisive 2017 general election.

Mbadi said that the agreement between ODM and Jubilee party was that each party should not dictate what the other party does.

“If Jubilee decides to go to any merger with Kanu, they are perfectly in order because it is not part of our concern,” Mbadi said.

He added that “Bringing more hands into Jubilee is helpful to the cause of both Jubilee and ODM.. at least for the two leaders who agreed to move this country forward. I don’t think as a party we feel threatened in any way with any arrangements that Jubilee gets into with any friendly party.”

Mbadi was responding to the current turmoil inside the Jubilee house.

The Suba South MP added that the agreement between ODM and Jubilee was not about merging but to address and solve the problems that have been facing the country through the handshake.

He, however, said that if Jubilee party would like to make a further arrangement with ODM ahead of the future elections, the party will discuss it.

“I will not rule out any such possibility because political parties are formed to acquire power and to govern,” he said.

Mbadi’s remarks come after talks of a possible coalition between Jubilee and Kanu after President Uhuru Kenyatta met with Kanu chair Gideon Moi.

The president summoned Jubilee senators for a meeting at State House on Monday. During the meeting, major changes were made in the Jubilee Senate leadership.

West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio was appointed the new Senate Majority leader.

Poghisio will now be deputised by Isiolo senator Fatuma Dullo Adan.

In the new changes, Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata has replaced Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika as the Majority Chief Whip.

Kang’ata will be deputised by Wajir nominated senator Farhiya Ali Haji.

State House spokesperson Kanze Dena-Mararon said 20 senators from both Jubilee and Kanu attended the meeting.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta Monday May 11,2020 managed to throw Deputy President William Ruto allies out of the senate leadership.

In a Parliamentary Group meeting held at State House, President Kenyatta effected the Senate reshuffles that were looming since last week.

The changes have seen Deputy President William Ruto’s allies removed from key positions, with Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika, an acerbic surrogate of the DP, getting replaced with her deputy, Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata, as the Majority Chief Whip.

Elgeyo Markwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen did not survive either. KANU’s West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio has replaced Murkomen as the Majority leader in the senate.

Isiolo County senator Fatuma Dullo has taken over as the senate Deputy Majority leader. Senator Farhiya Ali is the new deputy whip.

In the invite to senators, President Kenyatta, who is the party leader, told the Jubilee members to be at State Hosue at 8.30 am on May 11.

“Mheshimiwa, I wish to invite you for a Jubilee Coalition, Senate Parliamentary Group Meeting at Statehouse Nairobi, tomorrow, Monday 11th May 2020, at 8.30am. Please be punctual,” said the message dispatched to Jubilee senators.

In the last years, two factions have emerged within Jubilee Party, Kieleweke and Tanga Tanga over 2022 succession politics.

One faction, Tanga Tanga, is affiliated with members who support the presidential candidacy of the Deputy President William Ruto in the 2022 General Election.

The other faction, Kieleweke, is allied to the President’s camp who wish the party members to focus on Kenyatta’s legacy projects, warning it is too early to delve into succession politics.

The changes effected by President Kenyatta are said to be a punishment to DP Ruto allies for engaging in early 2022 successive politics.

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Narok Senator Ledama Olekina has cleared the air on claims of having been bribed Ksh 10 million by Deputy President William Ruto.

Appearing on K24’s Punchline show on the night of Sunday May 10, the now troubled lawmaker said that there has been a comment doing rounds on social media that he had been given Ksh 10 million by DP Ruto through his Personal Assistant Farouk Kibet.

Olekina dismissed the claims, terming the comment as stupid. He said that he had never met Farouk.

“There was a stupid comment circulating on social media that Farouk gave me Sh10 million. I have never met Farouk,” Olekina said.

Speculations that Senator Ledama was closely working with DP Ruto’s Tanga Tanga camp started when Tanga Tanga senators overwhelmingly voted him as the new chair of the Senate County Public Accounts and Investment Committee, replacing Homa Bay senator Moses Kajwang.

The Raila Odinga led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is this week expected to replace now rebel Olekina as chair of the powerful committee.

The election set for Thursday this week follows days of fierce wrangling within and outside the powerful senate watchdog committee, that has opened yet another political battlefront between Odinga, and deputy president William Ruto’s allies in the senate.

Olekina contested and won the election on Monday last week against his party’s preferred candidate Kisii Senator Sam Ongeri.

He had already chaired the CPAIC’s first meeting when Senate minority leader James Orengo (ODM) gave a notice indicating the party’s wish to dewhip him from the CPAIC and the Senate Business Committee (SBC).

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Jubilee senators are today (Monday May 11, 2020) meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.

The meeting is said to be a parliamentary group meeting where major changes in Jubilee House leadership will be announced.

On the list of changes, Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen is expected to be replaced.

It is expected that West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio will replace the Elgeyo Marakwet senator as the Senate Majority Leader as Uhuru purges rebels, many of them allies of Deputy President William Ruto.

Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata is also set to occupy his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika as the Majority Chief Whip while Kang’ata’s place will be given to Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja.

Susan is a strong supporter of DP Ruto’s 2022 presidential candidate.

The changes come in wake of a coalition agreement signed between former ruling party KANU and Jubilee Party which has since been deposited with Registrar of Political Parties.

Kanu’s Poghisio is being rewarded for his loyalty to Uhuru through Baringo Senator Gideon Moi’s party.

According to People Daily, Gideon, a fierce rival of Ruto, is likely to be a big beneficiary of the new alignments.

DP Ruto is expected to attend Monday’s Jubilee meeting alongside the party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju.

Murkomen and Kihika are being accused of defying President Kenyatta’s call to stop early 2022 campaigns.

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