Reprieve for Olekina as court stops his removal from Senate committee

AfricaPress-Kenya: Narok Senator Ledama Olekina remains as the chairperson of the County Public Accounts and Investments Committee (CPAIC) in the Senate after the High Court temporarily stopped his removal.

The committee is tasked with oversight of the expenditure of billions of shillings given to all the 47 counties under the Division of Revenue and other conditional grants.

Justice Weldon Korir has certified the case filed by the senator challenging the decision to remove him from the position as urgent.Judge Korir on Monday ruled that unless he issues the orders, then the petition may be overtaken by events.The matter will be mentioned on May 14 for further direction on hearing of the application.

The embattled senator was kicked out of the position last week in a notice dated May 6, 2020 by Senate Minority Leader James Orengo.

The statement read, “In accordance with the Senate Standing Order 190, I hereby give notice of the discharge and removal of Senator Ledama Ole Kina from the County Public Accounts and Investment Committee and the Senate Business Committee.”

However, the tough talking senator dismissed Orengo’s letter and went ahead with his business and chaired several CPAIC meetings“The letter by @orengo_james has got no basis and must be treated with contempt! Because this committee is very powerful they want a push over not me.”

“Today I chaired my second meeting as the duly elected Chair of Senate Public Accounts Investment Committee. The letter by James Orengo has got no basis and must be treated with contempt! Because this committee is very powerful they want a push over not me,” tweeted Ledama.

Judge Korir has now directed Senator Ledama’s lawyers to serve the petition to the respondents.
Ledama, through lawyer Nelson Havi, argues that he was validly elected as a member of the Minority Party in the Senate.